Department for Transport

Railways: Repairs and Maintenance

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Shaw report published in 2016, what plans his Department has to deliver more competitive tendering for the supply of rail maintenance and infrastructure support by Network Rail; and if he will publish details of those plans.

Wendy Morton: The Department for Transport (DfT) aims to drive value for money in the delivery of all services procured by the department. Guidance is provided to our commercial teams, Arm’s Length Bodies (ALBs), and Executive Agencies so that the legislative framework that we operate in is adhered to, and wider government policies such as the Construction and Sourcing Playbooks are embedded in all procurement activity. The Playbooks set out best practice guidance for contracting organisations to promote efficiency in the procurement process. As an ALB within the DfT Group, Network Rail is responsible for translating this legislation and guidance into individual tendering processes, that will be specific to the individual projects and contracts that support their operations. As individual business cases would be commercially sensitive to Network Rail and its suppliers, it would not be appropriate to publish these specific plans. DfT are committed to embedding the principles of the Construction Playbook and increasing the efficiency of procurement to drive value for money across the DfT Group. This supports the Department’s strategic priorities, which are published and in the public domain.

Train Operating Companies

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many applications for new open access rail operations have been submitted to the Office of Rail and Road since 2010; how many and what proportion of those applications were successful; and if he will publish a list of all successful applications in that time period.

Wendy Morton: Since 2010, the Office of Rail and Road has received 15 applications for new open access rail operations. Of these, three were subsequently withdrawn by the applicant, seven were rejected and three were approved. Two of the applications are currently under consideration. Since 2010 the Office of Rail and Road has also approved numerous applications for contract extensions and for the operation of significant additional services by existing open access operators. All access decisions made by the Office of Rail and Road are published on its website.

Railways: Fares

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing a rail miles award provision for future rail travel.

Wendy Morton: In May 2021, the Government published The Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail – a blueprint for a more customer focused, reliable and growing railway. As the guiding mind for the railway, once fully established Great British Railways will be able to consider in due course what initiatives, such as loyalty schemes, might meet passenger needs and help to grow passenger numbers and revenue.

Trains: Carbon Emissions

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of (a) rewarding passengers for using trains with a low carbon footprint and (b) incentivising operators of diesel powered trains to make the switch to HVO green diesel where electrification is still not an option.

Wendy Morton: All trains, when well-utilised, have a low carbon footprint compared to alternative transport modes. In our Transport Decarbonisation Plan (TDP) we have committed to working with industry to modernise fares ticketing and retail to encourage a shift to rail and cleaner and greener transport journeys. Our ambition is to remove all diesel-only trains (passenger and freight) from the network by 2040. As we decarbonise the railway, we must develop individual decarbonisation schemes carefully to ensure that they deliver both decarbonisation and other benefits, as well as value for money for the taxpayer. This will involve working closely with operators and manufacturers on assessing and deploying the most appropriate traction technology, this includes electrification, alternate fuels (such as HVO), as well as hydrogen, battery or bi-mode and hybrid traction technology.

Trains: Alternative Fuels

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to encourage freight and passenger operators of diesel powered trains and rolling stock to switch to drop-in HVO green diesel.

Wendy Morton: Our Transport Decarbonisation Plan (TDP) set out our ambition to remove all diesel-only trains (passenger and freight) from the network by 2040. We will work closely with operators and manufacturers on deploying the most appropriate traction technology, this includes looking at alternate fuels including renewable hydro-treated vegetable oil (HVO), hydrogen, battery or bi-mode and hybrid traction technology. In our TDP we have also committed to introducing a rail freight growth target - which should not become a ceiling - as well as incentivising the early take up of low carbon traction for rail freight. Separately, trials are being undertaken by freight operators to assess the use of renewable HVO as a short-term replacement for traditional diesel used in the interim during transition to zero emission alternatives.

Restoring Your Railway Fund: Abbey Line

Daisy Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 16 December to Question 92086, in which month he plans to make a decision on the Strategic Outline Business Case for the Abbey Line.

Wendy Morton: A Strategic Outline Business Case for the Abbey Line bid was submitted to the Department in March 2021 as part of the Restoring Your Railway programme. The Secretary of State for Transport and I are considering next steps for projects, including the Abbey Line, with a decision on the next tranche to progress anticipated later this year.

Driverless Vehicles

Matt Vickers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of introducing self-driving vehicles in the UK.

Matt Vickers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the possibility of having (a) differently-abled and (b) disabled non-drivers involved in the development of driverless cars and their regulation in the UK.

Matt Vickers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of involving abled and disabled non drivers involved in the development of driverless cars and their regulation in the UK.

Trudy Harrison: The Department for Transport has ongoing research, analysis and public engagement programmes which seek to understand the opportunities associated with new transport technologies. Examples informing our view on the potential benefits of self-driving vehicles (SDVs) include:88% of all reported road accidents involved human error as a contributory factor (Reported Road Casualties GB Annual Report 2020), ​SDVs have the potential to make our roads safer by reducing human driver error.The Connected Places Catapult forecast that in 2035, 40% of new UK car sales could have self-driving capabilities, with a total market value of £41.7 billion. This could in turn create 38,000 new skilled jobs.A Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders study found that 70% of people with disabilities feel their ability to travel how and when they want is restricted. The same survey found that 45% of people with disabilities would be likely to use a SDV today. In addition, Government is funding world-leading projects to explore how SDVs can improve mobility for an ageing population (in Bristol) and visually impaired people (in Birmingham), including the world’s first 4D tactile display in an automated vehicle. Separately in 2019, Coventry’s Aurrigo partnered with Blind Veterans UK on the world’s first trial of self-driving pods with blind veterans (in Brighton). The Law Commission of England and Wales and the Scottish Law Commission (‘the Commissions’) recently published their recommendations for a legal framework for SDVs, and consulted widely on how to ensure SDVs are made accessible to disabled people as the recommendations were developed. The Commissions’ final recommendations include an advisory panel to guide the issuing of permits for passenger services, which would include representatives for disabled (and older) people. We are considering the Commissions’ final recommendations and will make a formal response in due course.

Cycling and Walking

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plans to provide support to enable people to increase their use of active travel to help protect household budgets in the context of the rising cost of fuel.

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps to actively encourage people to use active travel to help save on their use of fuel.

Trudy Harrison: Walking and cycling for short journeys instead of driving can reduce the running costs of a car for households whilst providing physical and mental health benefits.The Government is enabling more people to walk and cycle through £2 billion of investment over five years as outlined in the Prime Minister’s Gear Change plan published in 2020.

Roads: Safety

Stuart Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what funding her Department provides to local authorities to support the delivery of effective road safety interventions.

Trudy Harrison: Road safety is a priority for the Government and the Department for Transport is working with road safety stakeholders and local authorities to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on our roads. We have some of the safest roads in the world, but the Government is not complacent and there is more work to be done. The Secretary of State for Transport has committed to tackling dangerous cycling by making sure that we will be able to prosecute dangerous cyclists more easily. Our award-winning Safer Roads Fund has seen the Department funding local authorities £100 million across England to fix the 50 most dangerous “A-roads”. This fund is expected to save 1,500 lives over the next 20 years and is already improving safety for all road users.

Electric Vehicles: Costs

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to make electric vehicles more affordable in the context of the rising cost of fuel.

Trudy Harrison: The government has committed £2.5 billion to offset the higher upfront costs of electric vehicles and funding to accelerate the rollout of the charging infrastructure. There are also tax benefits in place such as zero road tax, and company car tax rates, which can save drivers over £2,000 a year. Once fuel costs and tax incentives are factored in, we expect the total cost of ownership to reach parity during the 2020s, compared to petrol and diesel cars. An electric vehicle can be driven for a little as 1p per mile if consumers charge their cars off peak on an EV-tariff. We expect the increasing uptake of zero emission vehicles to lead to the development of the second-hand market, which will increase the accessibility of electric vehicles to those on lower incomes and ensure an equitable transition.

London Underground

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make it his policy to designate London Underground as an essential public service.

Trudy Harrison: The Secretary of State is continuously updated on any adverse impacts experienced by key workers and all other users of the London Underground (and other rail services). My officials continue to consider policy options to enable commuters, and particularly key workers, to get to work and go about their daily lives without undue and unnecessary inconvenience. The Government’s commitment to supporting London’s transport network is ongoing, and we have provided close to £5 billion of support throughout the pandemic. However, transport in London is devolved and is the responsibility of the Mayor of London and Transport for London.

Transport for London: Property Transfer

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to publish his decision on the application he has received from TfL for permission to build over Cockfosters underground station car park.

Trudy Harrison: The Secretary of State will write to the Member shortly with an update.

Department for Transport: Freedom of Information

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to respond to the Freedom of Information request relating to the application he has received from TfL to grant permission to build over Cockfosters underground station car park submitted by the hon. Member for Chipping Barnet on 26 January 2022.

Trudy Harrison: The Department is conducting a public interest test regarding the release of this information and plans to have a final response with the Member as soon as possible.

Driving Licences: Applications

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the average time taken for the DVLA to process driving license applications was in each of the last five years for which data is available; and what the target time was for each of those years.

Trudy Harrison: The average time taken for the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) to process driving licence applications in each of the last five years is shown in the table below.YearTo dispatch a:Average days to issue2016/17Ordinary driving licence1.62Vocational driving licence1.392017/18Ordinary driving licence1.53Vocational driving licence1.812018/19Ordinary driving licence1.57Vocational driving licence2.332019/20Ordinary driving licence1.41Vocational driving licence2.422020/21Ordinary driving licence online2.00Vocational driving licence online2.00Ordinary driving licence by post14.34Vocational driving licence by post6.71   The processing of paper applications in 2020/21 was impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Performance against targets is published annually in the DVLA’s annual report and accounts and is available online here.

Southeastern Trains: Cleaning Services

Bell Ribeiro-Addy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether due diligence and fit and proper person checks have been carried out by his Department or by Southeastern Trains Ltd in relation to ESO Capital, which part-owns Churchill Group.

Wendy Morton: It is the responsibility of train operators to ensure all necessary due diligence has been completed when entering into a contract with a third-party.

Southeastern Trains: Cleaning Services

Bell Ribeiro-Addy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will hold discussions with the directors of Southeastern Trains Ltd to place on the agenda of the next SE Trains Board meeting the current pay dispute involving Churchill Cleaners.

Wendy Morton: The Department has regular meetings with the Directors of South East Trains on a range of historic, current and future franchise issues, which can include discussions relating to the role of third parties in the delivery of South Eastern Trains Ltd operations.

Southeastern Trains: Cleaning Services

Bell Ribeiro-Addy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will hold discussions with the directors of Southeastern Trains Ltd to place on the agenda of the next SE Trains Board meeting the issue of free rail travel for Churchill Cleaners.

Wendy Morton: The Department has regular meetings with the Directors of South East Trains on a range of historic, current and future franchise issues, which can include discussions relating to the role of third parties in the delivery of South Eastern Trains Ltd operations.

Southeastern Trains: Cleaning Services

Bell Ribeiro-Addy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has the power to instruct relevant directors of Southeastern Trains Ltd to meet representatives of Churchill cleaners on their industrial dispute.

Wendy Morton: Under the terms of the Service Contract between the Secretary of State, DOHL and South Eastern Trains Ltd, the operator is contractually obliged to effectively cooperate with all third-party suppliers and a South Eastern Ltd Trains director has already met with Churchill’s regarding the industrial dispute.

Travel Cards: Greater London

Dawn Butler: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Government has plans to lift the restriction on the use of 60+ Oyster Cards and Older Persons Freedom Passes before 9am on weekdays.

Wendy Morton: Transport in London is devolved and responsibility for it lies with the Mayor of London and Transport for London, including decisions on concessions offered and the terms attached to those concessions.

Buses: Exhaust Emissions

Gavin Newlands: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many buses have been ordered through the Zero Emission Buses Regional Area (ZEBRA) scheme in each month since the scheme’s introduction.

Trudy Harrison: In March 2021 the Transport Secretary launched the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) scheme which was open to local transport authorities who were able to bid for funding to introduce zero emission buses and the infrastructure needed to support them in their areas. The Government announced the first areas to be awarded funding under the fast track process of the scheme in October 2021. Cambridgeshire & Peterborough, Leicester, Warrington, Kent and Milton Keynes have been awarded £70.8m funding for zero emission buses and associated infrastructure. This will support the introduction of up to 335 electric buses and associated infrastructure. We expect first orders for these buses to be placed this year. A second group of local transport authorities have submitted business cases to secure funding through the standard process. The Department is currently assessing these business cases. Funding will be awarded to successful areas later in 2022.

Highway Code

Mary Kelly Foy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that all road users are informed of the recent changes to the hierarchy of road users within the Highway Code.

Trudy Harrison: The Department has launched a £500,000 THINK! campaign to raise awareness of the recent changes to The Highway Code, including a focus on the new hierarchy of road users. Communications have included media engagement with supporting stakeholder comment, social media advertising, radio advertising and an extranet to share both static and video assets with stakeholders to amplify our messages. The campaign is running in England, Wales and Scotland. Further communications are planned for later in the year, to align with seasonal increases in active travel, to help embed the changes and encourage understanding and uptake of the new guidance.

Large Goods Vehicle Drivers: Conditions of Employment

Kirsten Oswald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 14 February 2022 to Question 119637, what recent assessment he has made of the road safety implications of HGV driver conditions of employment.

Trudy Harrison: The Department has been looking at ways to improve road safety where it concerns anyone driving or riding for work, including drivers of HGVs. Officials have been working closely with the Health and Safety Executive on new guidance published in September 2021 titled ‘Driving and Riding Safely for Work’ which applies to any organisation employing those who drive or ride for work and to the drivers and riders themselves. The guidance is designed to highlight the responsibilities of these organisations and the responsibilities of individual drivers and riders under both Road Safety and Health and Safety regulations and ensure their compliance with those regulations. HGV drivers are required to undergo periodic medical examinations, including eyesight tests to ensure they are fit to drive. HGV drivers are also subject to the retained drivers hours and working time regulations to ensure that driver safety is not compromised. Employers remain responsible for the health and safety of their employees and other road users.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Boilers: Heating

Drew Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to Russia's suspension from The Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification and The Forest Stewardship Council, what steps his Department is taking to (a) stabilise the market in wood pellets for biomass boilers, and (b) support the supply of wood pellets for biomass boilers from sources other then Russia.

Greg Hands: The Government will be working with industry to mitigate the impact of Russia’s suspension and to ensure continuity of the supply of wood pellets in the market. The UK government intends to publish a new biomass strategy later this year. This will review the amount of sustainable biomass available to the UK and how it could be best utilised across the economy to help achieve the Government's net zero and wider environmental commitments.

Housing: Energy

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many homes will be retrofitted to reduce fuel consumption by the end of (a) 2022 and (b) 2023.

Greg Hands: The Government has committed to invest £6.6 billion across this parliament to support the decarbonisation of buildings. This funding includes:The Local Authority Delivery scheme: almost £787million has been allocated to the scheme across 3 phases and it is forecasted to upgrade to up to 75,000 homes.The Home Upgrade Grant: the first £219 million phase is expected to upgrade up to 10,000 homes during 2023.The Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund: the £61 million Demonstrator is forecast to complete the upgrade of around 2,000 homes in 2022. The £179 million Wave 1 is expected to upgrade around 20,000 homes from 2022 to 2023Meanwhile, the Government has placed an obligation on larger energy suppliers to install energy-efficiency and heating measures in Britain’s homes. The current iteration of the scheme, ECO3, began in October 2018. A total of 1,039,500 measures have been installed to date. In 2021, approximately 398,200 measures were installed in around 153,100 households.

Liquefied Natural Gas and Oil: Rural Areas

Virginia Crosbie: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to support people in rural communities who are not on the mains gas network and rely on liquified natural gas or oil for heating their homes.

Greg Hands: The Government has allocated £1.1 billion to the Home Upgrade Grant over the next three years, which will be delivered from early 2022 to March 2025. The Home Upgrade Grant will provide energy efficiency upgrades and low-carbon heating to low-income households living off the gas grid in England, tackling fuel poverty and helping households meet net zero. Consumers of heating oil and liquified petroleum gas will be eligible for the £200 energy rebate as long as they are also domestic electricity customers. Financial support remains available for heating oil customers with energy bills, if eligible, through the Warm Home Discount, Winter Fuel Payment and Cold Weather Payment schemes. More information can be found at https://www.gov.uk/browse/benefits/low-income.

Bounce Back Loan Scheme

Alison Thewliss: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many and what proportion of recipients of bounce bank loans have not yet started repayments of those loans.

Paul Scully: As many borrowers are using “Pay as You Grow” options, it is not possible to provide a definitive figure for on-schedule payments for the Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS). However, latest figures show that £2.04bn, or 4% of total facilities, have been repaid in full.

Foreign Companies: Russia

Sarah Olney: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the total value of loans issued to businesses with premises or registered interests in the Russian Federation was under the (a) Covid Business Interruption Loans Scheme, (b) Covid Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme and (c) Bounce Back Loan Scheme.

Paul Scully: In order to be eligible for the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme or the Bounce Back Loan Scheme, a business was required to be trading in the United Kingdom. We do not hold data on whether recipients of the schemes have premises or registered interests in the Russian Federation.

Property: Russia

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many (a) primary residences, (b) second homes and (c) uninhabited properties in the UK are owned by Russian nationals.

Paul Scully: HM Land Registry (HMLR) registers legal ownership, interests, mortgages and other secured loans against land and property in England and Wales. Land Registration is a devolved matter in Scotland and in Northern Ireland. The Register of Title held by HMLR does not record the nationality of individuals who own land or property, or whether that property is a primary residence, second home or uninhabited property. Further details about the information that HM Land Registry holds, what is publicly available, and how it can be obtained, is set out online via the GOV.UK website.

Insolvency

Beth Winter: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what forecast his Department has made of the potential change in the level of individual insolvencies over the next 12 months.

Paul Scully: The Department does not produce any official forecasts for individual insolvencies. The Insolvency Service does, however, undertake analysis to assist with operational planning. Over the last year individual insolvencies have begun returning to levels seen prior to the pandemic and this trend is expected to continue over the next 12 months.

Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Bill

Owen Thompson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the evidential basis is for the inclusion of clause 18(b) in the Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Bill.

Owen Thompson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if she will introduce standardised tests for people seeking exemption from the Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Bill under clause 18(1)(b) to prove their suitability for that exemption.

Paul Scully: The circumstances under which an overseas entity might be exempted from giving notices in accordance with the requirements of clause 12 of the Bill have been carefully considered to provide an appropriate balance between clarity and flexibility. Given the key objectives of the register of overseas entities are to improve transparency and combat money laundering, these exemptions will be used very carefully, and only for evidenced and legitimate reasons.

Business: Income

Kevin Hollinrake: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent estimate he has made of the number of UK-based businesses with an annual turnover of between (a) £10,000 and £20,000, (b) £21,000 and £30,000, (c) £31,000 and £40,000, (d) £50,000 and £60,000 and (e) £70,000 and £85,000 in each of the last five years.

Paul Scully: The Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy does not hold data on the number of UK-based businesses with an annual turnover at the intervals provided in the question. The Office for National Statistics publishes annual data on UK-based business with an annual turnover of between (a) £0-£49,000, (b) £50,000-£99,000, (c) £100,000-£249,000 etc.[1] [1] ONS, UK Business: Activity, Size and Location (Table 11)

Imports: Certification

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate his Department has made of the number of imported items bearing the CE quality mark which will need to be certified with the UKCA mark by 1 January 2023; and what plans his Department has to ensure that work is completed.

Paul Scully: The UKCA marking becomes mandatory for most goods from 1 January 2023. Products requiring the UKCA marking are valued at approximately £110bn of UK importsBEIS is continuing to support industry through an extensive programme of engagement, publication of enhanced business guidance, and working closely with the Conformity Assessment Body sector and the UK Accreditation Service to support sufficient capacity to test and certify products to UKCA requirements.

Private Sector: Nuclear Energy

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to help the private sector to deliver new nuclear energy projects.

Greg Hands: This Government has set out multiple measures to support the private sector to deliver new nuclear energy projects. The Government wants UK companies to be ambitious in the new nuclear space and be better able to compete for the higher value opportunities that will help build sustainable capabilities in the UK. To support this the Government wants new nuclear developers to share supply chain information with industry early to ensure that UK companies are positioned and prepared to bid for these opportunities. For future New Nuclear projects (i.e. projects after Hinkley Point C), developers will be required to produce Supply Chain Plans. Developers will need to show evidence that their projects will consider growth in the UK supply chain through the development of competition, the facilitation of new entrants and by boosting innovation and skills. In addition, the Nuclear Energy (Financing) Bill is currently in Parliament. This will introduce a Regulated Asset Base (RAB) model to reduce the project costs and encourage a wider range of private investment into new nuclear projects.  The Government is in constructive negotiations over Sizewell C in Suffolk and recently entered into a Combined Option agreement of £100m with EDF, to mature the project further and attract potential investment. The Government has also made up to £1.7billion of funding available to reach a final investment decision on a new large-scale nuclear power plant this Parliament, subject to value for money and relevant approvals; these funds could also involve Government investment at the point of a capital raise, helping to mobilise other private sector capital into a project. The Government announced a £385 million Advanced Nuclear Fund. From this, £210 million has been awarded to Rolls-Royce SMR to develop their Small Modular Reactor design, matched by private sector funding of over £250 million. The Government announced a £120 million Nuclear Enabling Fund to provide targeted support to address barriers to entry for future nuclear. A £75 million Nuclear Fuel Fund will also be created to be used alongside private sector co-investment to preserve and develop the UK’s fuel production capability.

Utilities

David Mundell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how are new providers selected following the collapse of an energy supplier.

Greg Hands: The Government and Ofgem will ensure customers do not experience any disruption to their supply when a company leaves the market. The Supplier of Last Resort (SoLR) process is triggered by Ofgem when a supplier becomes insolvent. Ofgem invites suppliers to bid to be the SoLR and chooses the supplier that will offer the best value for consumers, this includes ensuring the protection of customer credit balances.

Energy: Prices

David Mundell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the tariff obligations are on energy providers that supply customers who were previously served by a provider that went into administration.

Greg Hands: Ofgem runs the Supplier of Last Resort (SoLR) process that ensures customers do not experience any disruption to their supply when a company leaves the market. Ofgem will work with suppliers to appoint the SoLR that provides the best deal for customers. Customers will continue to be protected from unfair prices by the price cap.

Housing: Heating

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he will take to (a) offer the 1.9 million homes who use oil and LPG to heat their properties greater choice and (b) support a range of different technologies to help these properties decarbonise.

Greg Hands: Electrification of heat is the only option proven to decarbonise off grid homes at scale. BEIS analysis suggests that it would be feasible to install low temperature heat pumps in around 80% of fossil fuel heated off gas grid homes. The Government has consulted on proposals to end the installation of fossil fuel heating in homes off the gas grid from 2026, with a ‘heat pump first’ approach to replacement heating systems. Under these proposals, homes that cannot reasonably practicably install a heat pump will have a choice of heating technologies that are consistent with net zero. The Government is considering the responses to the consultation and will respond in due course.

Housing: Energy

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department will be taking to introduce an electrification first approach to homes that are off the gas grid.

Greg Hands: The Government has consulted on proposals to end the installation of fossil fuel heating in homes off the gas grid from 2026 in England, with a ‘heat pump first’ approach to replacement heating systems. We are currently reviewing responses to the consultation and will respond in due course. It would be for the Northern Ireland Executive to consider any similar steps for homes off the gas grid in Northern Ireland.

Energy: Prices

Beth Winter: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he plans to require energy suppliers to take the burden of increases in wholesale energy price costs when the OFGEM energy price cap announcement takes effect in October 2022.

Greg Hands: It is Ofgem’s role, as independent regulator, to set a fair level for the price cap. Legislation sets out that Ofgem must review the level of the cap at least once every 6 months to ensure the cap level appropriately reflects the underlying costs of energy, and the need to ensure that energy suppliers who operate efficiently are able to finance their activities. The Government has confidence in Ofgem, as the independent regulator of the British gas and electricity markets, to appropriately execute its judgement in this regard.

Energy: Prices

Beth Winter: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to mitigate the impact on household budgets of the OFGEM energy price cap announcement due to take effect in October 2022.

Greg Hands: The Government is in regular contact with Ofgem and industry to discuss the impact of unprecedented global gas prices and the Government will continue to monitor the situation closely. The Government are already taking action to support households with rising energy bills. The Chancellor of the Exchequer has announced a package of support worth £9.1 billion in 2022-23. This includes a £200 rebate for households delivered via their energy bill this autumn, a £150 non-repayable reduction in Council Tax bills for all households in Bands A-D in England and £144 million of discretionary funding for Local Authorities to support households who need support but are not eligible for the Council Tax reduction. This is in addition to the support Government will continue to provide through the Warm Home Discount Scheme, which this winter is providing over 2 million households a £140 rebate off their energy bill. The Government has also announced that it would be increasing to £150 and help an extra 780,000 households next winter. Further, Winter Fuel Payments and Cold Weather Payments help ensure the most vulnerable are better able to heat their homes over the colder months.

Energy Bills Rebate

Beth Winter: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans he has to make an assessment of the impact of the Energy Bills Rebate and Council Tax Rebate ahead of the next OFGEM energy price cap announcement that will take effect in October 2022.

Greg Hands: Decisions on the level of the price cap are for Ofgem. The Government is in regular contact with Ofgem and industry to discuss the impact of unprecedented global gas prices and will continue to monitor the situation closely to ensure consumers are protected. This includes a package of support worth £9.1 billion in 2022-23 which includes a £150 Council Tax rebate for bands A-D, £144 million discretionary funding for local authorities and a £200 energy bill reduction which will help over 28 million households.

Energy: Prices

Beth Winter: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the statement by the chief executive of Energy UK on 3 March 2022 that household energy bills could be anywhere between £2500 and £3000 in October 2022.

Greg Hands: The Government recognises the difficult position that many households are in with the impact of rising energy prices. The rising energy tariffs that consumers may be experiencing is largely driven by increases in wholesale gas prices worldwide. In order to help people with the costs of energy, the Government has announced a package of support measures: A £200 rebate for households delivered via their energy bill this autumn, paid back automatically over the next 5 years, spreading the increased costs of global prices over time in a way that is more manageable for households. A £150 non-repayable reduction in Council Tax bills for all households in Bands A-D in England. £144 million of discretionary funding for Local Authorities to support households who need support but are not eligible for the Council Tax reduction. Additionally, the Energy Price Cap will remain in place at least till the end of 2022 to protect 22 million customers on default tariffs and ensure they pay a fair price for their energy.

Energy: Meters

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent estimate he has made of the proportion of households that have a pre-payment (a) gas and (b) electricity meter in (i) Manchester Gorton, (ii) City of Manchester, (iii) Greater Manchester, (iv) the North West and (v) England.

Greg Hands: As Ofgem notes in its latest Consumer Protection report (https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications/consumer-protection-report-autumn-2021), there were around 4.1 million electricity and 3.3 million gas customers on a pre-payment meters in Great Britain in 2020. The Department has not undertaken an assessment of figures for these specific areas.

Ofgem

Dr Alan Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when he plans to publish the Strategy and Policy Statement for Ofgem; and if he will commit to undertaking extensive engagement with representatives of the UK energy industry on the development of that statement.

Greg Hands: The Government plans to publish the Strategy and Policy Statement for Ofgem later this year. In developing the Statement, the Government will engage with stakeholders in the UK energy industry and launch a public consultation.

Energy: Consumption

Kenny MacAskill: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 7 March 2022 to Question 132379 on Energy: Consumption, if he will make an estimate of levels of energy consumption of domestic fuel in October 2022 compared to October (a) 2020, (b) 2019 and (c) 2018.

Greg Hands: Monthly outturn data showing domestic electricity consumption are available at:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1056669/ET_5.5_FEB_22.xlsx. Data on domestic gas consumption are published on a quarterly basis only and are available at:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1053835/ET_4.1_DEC_21_v2.xlsx. The Department does not publish forecasts of monthly consumption for either electricity or gas.

Energy: Disconnections

Kenny MacAskill: Suggested redraft: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 1 March 2022 to Question 126893 on Energy: Disconnections, which body is responsible for recording disconnection rates; and what criteria that body uses to determine disconnection rates.

Kenny MacAskill: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 7 March 2022 to Question 133308 on Energy: Disconnections, for what reason his Department does not record data on levels of disconnection by (a) region and (b) UK nation.

Greg Hands: It is the regulator, Ofgem and not BEIS’s responsibility to monitor energy supply companies’ performance in the energy retail market. Standard Licence Condition 32 in the supply licence requires energy suppliers to submit information to Ofgem, Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland on their dealings with gas and electricity customers in a variety of areas and includes data on disconnections carried out by the licensee. The data is published on Ofgem’s Customer Service portal on its website at:https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/customer-service-data.

Energy: Disconnections

Kenny MacAskill: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 1 March 2022 to Question 126893 on Energy: Disconnections, what data his Department holds on (a) energy supply to and (b) consumption of energy by (i) region and (ii) UK nation.

Greg Hands: Electricity consumption in the nine English regions and each UK nation (Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland) is published annually in subnational electricity consumption statistics. Gas consumption in the nine English regions and each UK nation (Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland) is published annually in subnational gas consumption statistics. Total energy consumption in the nine English regions and each UK nation is published annually in subnational total final energy consumption. This includes road transport and residual fuels, in addition to electricity and gas. Total supply of energy in the UK is published annually in the Digest of UK Energy Statistics and quarterly in Energy Trends.

Solar Power

Naz Shah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what support is in place for home owners with 25 year leases on solar panels, who are unable to get any equity from a Mortgage lender, or able to buy out or amend their solar panel leases.

Greg Hands: The Government is aware that homeowners have leased their roof space to receive free solar panels under commercial “rent a roof” schemes.  Under these arrangements, the panel providers remain owners of the equipment and receive the Feed-in Tariffs (FIT) payments from the energy supplier, while the homeowner benefits from the savings they make on their electricity bills. The FIT scheme allowed for such assignment of rights to FIT payments, but it did not prescribe how such arrangements should work: it was for the parties involved to arrive at a mutually beneficial agreement. While the FIT was a government scheme which provided the framework for an investment opportunity, the various marketing approaches and offers that commercial ‘rent a roof’ companies employed were not government schemes.

Renewable Energy: Finance

Virginia Crosbie: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of further increasing investment in (a) onshore wind, (b) solar, (c) tidal and (d) other renewable energy sources such in order to further diversify energy generation in the UK; what steps he is taking to support the development of energy storage facilities; and what his planned timetable is for publishing the findings of the call for evidence on large scale, long duration energy storage.

Greg Hands: The Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme is the Government’s main mechanism for supporting new low-carbon electricity generation projects in Great Britain. The fourth allocation round of the CfD scheme (AR4) opened on 13 December 2021 and aims to secure more low-carbon electricity capacity than the previous three rounds combined. AR4 is open to an expanded number of renewable technologies, including offshore wind, onshore wind, solar, tidal stream and floating offshore wind. In February, the Government also announced that the next CfD allocation round will be brought forward to March 2023, and future rounds will run annually, rather than every two years, thereafter. This will support renewable electricity producers and further drive deployment of renewable power.In 2019 BEIS launched the Storage at Scale competition, which funded demonstration facilities for two innovative energy storage facilities. In 2021, BEIS launched a further programme, The Longer Duration Energy Storage competition. In February 2022, BEIS announced funding for 24 projects under this competition to perform engineering design or feasibility studies of their technologies. The Government is reviewing the responses to the Call for Evidence on large-scale, long-duration electricity storage, alongside analysis the Department commissioned on the role of this type of storage in the electricity system. The Government will publish a response in due course.

Energy: Standing Charges

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent estimate his Department has made of the rise in energy standing charges; and what steps he plans to take to prevent further rises.

Greg Hands: The standing charge is a daily flat rate that suppliers charge their customers to cover the cost of providing a live supply regardless how much energy they use. It includes charges from network companies for using pipes and power lines to carry gas and electricity supplies, the maintenance and installation of meters and billing and accounting. A small proportion of the standing charge also goes towards Government initiatives that help vulnerable households and reduce carbon emissions. Ofgem requires energy suppliers to separate out the standing charge from a tariff’s energy unit rate so consumers can see what the different charges amount to. For millions of households the level of standing charge is protected by the energy price cap rate set by Ofgem. While the setting of tariffs is a commercial matter for individual supply companies, the energy unit rate and the standing charge together for a supplier’s default and standard variable tariffs must not exceed the level of the price cap. For consumers looking for a new fixed deal for their energy, suppliers can offer a range of tariffs including some with a low or even a zero standing charge and a higher energy unit rate to attract low energy users.

Renewable Energy: Sustainable Development

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to transition the UK energy sector to sustainable energy sources, such as wind, tidal or hydro, following sanctions on the Russian Government.

Greg Hands: The Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme is the Government’s flagship scheme for supporting new low-carbon electricity generation projects in Great Britain. The latest auction is underway and aims to secure more low-carbon electricity capacity than the previous three rounds combined, supporting an expanded number of renewable technologies, including offshore wind, onshore wind, solar, tidal stream and floating offshore wind. In February, the Government also announced that the next CfD allocation round will be brought forward to March 2023, and future rounds will run annually, rather than every two years, thereafter. These steps will help drive forward the deployment of renewable power.

Industry: National Security

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will hold discussions with relevant stakeholders on developing an industrial strategy to support countries to diversify their dependency on hostile states.

Greg Hands: The UK and its international partners have stood united in condemning the Russian government in response to its invasion of Ukraine. The Government has imposed an unprecedented package of sanctions to inflict maximum and lasting pain on Russia. The Government has banned Russian ships from UK ports, stopped Russian planes from landing at UK airports, and excluded Russian banks from the City of London – the second largest financial centre in the world. Major Russian companies can no longer raise finance in our markets. UK companies must comply with the sanctions imposed by the UK and its allies. The Government is not imposing any legal requirement on companies to go further, and businesses should make their own choices about trade outside of those sanctions. But the Government applauds those who have chosen to take that extra step for the people of Ukraine.The Government has also been clear in its view that the whole of Europe must end its dependence on Russian oil and gas, and has been working with European partners to support them in diversifying energy supplies.

Northern Ireland Office

Places for Growth Programme: Northern Ireland

Stuart Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the progress of the Places for Growth programme.

Conor Burns: The creation of additional Government roles in Northern Ireland remains a key priority for the Government and the Northern Ireland Office. Bringing new roles to Northern Ireland will deliver on our commitment to level up right across the UK and increase prosperity in Northern Ireland. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and I continue to work closely with the Minister for Levelling up and other Cabinet colleagues to drive this important work forward. I am also pleased to advise that my Department has recently relocated to the Government Hub at Erskine House in Belfast City centre.

High Street Voucher Scheme: Northern Ireland

Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the level of take up of the spend local voucher scheme in Northern Ireland in each month since that scheme has been active; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the impact of the spend local voucher scheme on footfall on high streets in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

Conor Burns: The Spend Local Voucher Scheme was designed and introduced by the Northern Ireland Executive and was made possible through the £5 billion additional Covid funding that the Government provided to the Executive since the start of the pandemic. Assessment of the take up and impact of the Spend Local Voucher Scheme is a matter for the Northern Ireland Department for the Economy, however, I look forward to discussing the matter with the Executive in due course as part of our regular engagement.

Wales Office

UK Internal Trade: Wales

Ruth Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what assessment he has made of the strength of trade relations between Wales and (a) Northern Ireland, (b) Scotland and (c) England; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Hart: The Government is monitoring and assessing these critical trade routes between Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland and England. We are committed to strengthening the Union and increasing trade flows between the four nations as a key part of that strategy.Under the UK Internal Market Act, we have legislated for a framework within which to manage regulatory divergence within the UK, ensuring the continued free flow of goods and services between Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland and England, by preventing the introduction of new regulatory barriers and enshrining the principles of mutual recognition and non-discrimination into domestic law. These principles ensure that regulations from one part of the UK are recognised across the other home nations and support companies trading in the UK regardless of where in the UK they are based.We have further legislated to ensure unfettered access for trade between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

Department of Health and Social Care

Coronavirus: Disease Control

Florence Eshalomi: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to COVID-19 Response: Living with COVID-19, published February 2022, whether an equality impact assessment for that document.

Edward Argar: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Department of Health and Social Care: Written Questions

Dan Carden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when his Department plans to provide a substantive answer to Question 117041, tabled on 2 February 2022 by the hon Member for Liverpool, Walton.

Edward Argar: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Sir Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 9 February to Question 92799 on Coronavirus: Vaccination, what is the maximum period following death which meets the criterion of  a person reported as having died shortly after vaccination; and whether the same criterion applies to (a) Astra Zeneca, (b) Moderna and (c) Pfizer covid-19 vaccines.

Maggie Throup: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Ivermectin

Sir Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 20 December to Question 88624 and the Answer of 28 February 2022 to Question 127264 on Coronavirus: Ivermectin2, what the decision making process was for the Ivermectin being (a) entered into the PRINCIPLE clinical trial and (b) made the subject of monitoring by the Therapeutics Taskforce; and for what reason it an application for licensing authorisation for the use of Ivermectin in the treatment of patients with covid-19 has to be made to the MHRA before it (i)conducts a safety, efficacy and quality review and (ii) consults the Commission on Human Medicines.

Maggie Throup: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Protective Clothing: Xinjiang

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 28 February 2022 to Question 118613 on Protective Clothing: Xinjiang, what steps his Department took to (a) ensure that and (b) conclude that no personal protective equipment purchased was produced in Xinjiang.

Edward Argar: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Health Services

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress has been made towards delivering the NHS Long Term Plan commitment to help prevent up to 150,000 heart attacks, strokes and dementia cases over the next 10 years.

Maria Caulfield: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Health Services: Standards

Colleen Fletcher: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to increase NHS capacity in (a) Coventry North East constituency, (b) Coventry, (c) the West Midlands and (d) England.

Edward Argar: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Hospitals: Temporary Employment

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the total cost to NHS hospitals was of using (a) agency and (b) bank staff in each year since 2010-11.

Edward Argar: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Sir Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many Oxford AstraZeneca covid-19 vaccines administered to people up to the end of June 2021 were manufactured in the Serum Institute of India; and how many of those vaccines were described as (a) Covidshield and (b) Vaxzevria.

Maggie Throup: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Accident and Emergency Departments: Standards

Dr Alan Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the number of patients waiting 12 hours or more in Emergency Departments from time of arrival for each month in last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Argar: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Dementia: Research

Claire Hanna: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what (a) recent progress he has made on the development of the new dementia strategy and (b) plans he has to help increase (i) research and (ii) funding for dementia research.

Gillian Keegan: We will be setting out plans for dementia in England later this year. Task and finish groups were established in late October 2021 to develop the strategy with stakeholders. We received the output of these groups in December 2021, which have been reviewed and are being refined into proposals and testing with people living with dementia and their carers.We have committed to invest £375 million in neurodegenerative disease research in the next five years to fund projects into a range of diseases, including dementia. The National Institute for Health Research Highlight Notice on Dementia launched in March 2021. We are reviewing ways to increase further research on dementia and we will set out plans in the forthcoming dementia strategy.

Care Homes and Hospitals: Coronavirus

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether free covid-19 lateral flow tests will be made available to care home and hospital visitors after 1 April 2022.

Gillian Keegan: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Screening

Florence Eshalomi: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the financial impact on people who are clinically vulnerable of needing to pay for covid-19 lateral flow tests from 1 April 2022.

Maggie Throup: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Protective Clothing

Dawn Butler: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many items of personal protective equipment (PPE) have been destroyed without use in the last twelve months; and what reasons were given for destroying those items of PPE.

Edward Argar: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Screening

Florence Eshalomi: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has completed an equality impact assessment on the potential risk to clinically vulnerable people of the end of free asymptomatic covid-19 lateral flow tests from 1 April.

Maggie Throup: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Screening

Florence Eshalomi: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the approach to covid-19 testing outlined in the guidance COVID-19 Response: Living with COVID-19, whether the Government plans to make free asymptomatic lateral flow tests available to (a) clinically vulnerable people, (b) their friends and relatives, (c) people who provide their care and (d) other close contacts.

Maggie Throup: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Oral Tobacco: Sales

Mr David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to introduce regulations for the sale of oral nicotine pouches.

Maggie Throup: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Oral Tobacco: Standards

Mr David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the British Standards Institution document PAS 8877:2022 entitled Tobacco-free oral nicotine pouches Composition, manufacture and testing specification, published on 28 February 2022.

Maggie Throup: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Genito-urinary Medicine

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the availability of online and in-person sexual and reproductive health services in England.

Maria Caulfield: No national assessment has been made. However, services have remained open throughout the pandemic through the increase of digital services, including telephone and internet consultations, in addition to continuing face-to-face appointments for urgent or complex cases.  The forthcoming Sexual and Reproductive Health Strategy will set out plans to work with system partners to ensure the availability of a blended service delivery model, including consistent and appropriate access to online and face-to-face services.

Dental Services: Contracts

Daisy Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the existing dental prototype agreement scheme.

Maria Caulfield: Data from the prototype programme in the last three years indicated that there would be significant challenges in implementing the current prototype model more widely. The evidence that suggests if implemented, the contract may not maintain dental access, reduce oral health inequalities and offer overall sustainability within available resources for the National Health Service.The legislation supporting the programme expires on 31 March 2022 and it will close. However, the information obtained through the programme will inform NHS England’s proposals for dental system reform.

Pregnancy: Air Pollution

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether services or treatments are available through the NHS to support pregnant women with the impacts of poor air quality.

Maria Caulfield: The NHS Long Term Plan includes respiratory disease as a national clinical priority with the objective of improving outcomes. The interventions include early and accurate diagnosis, increase in service provision for pulmonary rehabilitation, medicines optimisation and self-management of respiratory conditions. Poor air quality is documented to have adverse pregnancy outcomes like low birth weight and premature birth. Both prevention and the early diagnosis of respiratory conditions for all, as outlined in the Long Term Plan, will ensure pregnant women have adequate treatments prevent worsening of respiratory disease. NHS England and NHS Improvement have established 13 respiratory clinical networks to provide clinical leadership of respiratory services.

Pregnancy: Employment

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department intends to publish guidance for (a) employers and (b) pregnant workers on new and expectant mothers in the workplace during covid-19.

Maria Caulfield: Advice for employers on managing the workplace during COVID-19 was published on 14 July 2021 at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-covid-19The Health and Safety Executive also provided guidance on working safely during the pandemic, which is available at the following link:https://www.hse.gov.uk/coronavirus/working-safely/index.htm‘Coronavirus (COVID-19): advice for pregnant employees’ was recently updated on 31 January 2022 and is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-for-pregnant-employeesThis guidance also provides advice to employers on undertaking risk assessments for pregnant employees and regularly reviewing workplace conditions. The Health and Safety Executive also provided additional guidance for employers on protecting pregnant workers during the pandemic, which is available at the following link:https://www.hse.gov.uk/coronavirus/working-safely/protect-people.htm#pregnant_workers

Maternity Services: Coronavirus

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many NHS Trust maternity services offer pregnant women vaccinations in their antenatal clinics; and whether the NHS has plans to roll this out to all maternity services.

Maria Caulfield: Pregnant women are offered vaccinations for flu, pertussis (whooping cough) and COVID-19. Data on the number of maternity services offering these vaccinations within antenatal clinics is not held centrally.During the 2021/22 flu season, almost all trusts in England with maternity services can offer flu vaccinations to pregnant women. We aim to achieve 100% of trusts offering the vaccination in 2022/23. All general practitioner (GP) services and over 9,500 community pharmacists can offer flu vaccinations to pregnant women in the 2021/22 flu season.All GP services offer pregnant women vaccination against pertussis as part of a national programme. It can also be offered by trusts with maternity services on a regionally commissioned basis, where uptake rates are otherwise lower.To maximise uptake of COVID-19 vaccinations in pregnancy, the National Health Service has worked with a range of stakeholders to support access to vaccination within the antenatal pathway. On 25 January 2022, maternity services and system vaccination leads were asked to ensure that every woman attending a maternity service has access to COVID-19 vaccinations within the maternity service or a walk-in vaccination service elsewhere on the same site.

General Practitioners: Standards

Bell Ribeiro-Addy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of what ratio of patients to GPs is considered safe in the development of general practice policy.

Maria Caulfield: No formal assessment has been made. There is no recommendation for how many patients should be allocated to a general practitioner (GP), as the demand each patient places on their GP can be affected by various factors, including rurality and patient demographics. GPs form part of a multidisciplinary team, therefore ensuring the appropriate skills are available in general practice can address workload pressures and deliver appropriate patient care.

Mental Health Services: Children

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that specialist support is available to children with mental health needs who are victims of domestic abuse.

Gillian Keegan: Between 2018 and 2020, the Department provided £2 million for a pathfinder pilot project to create a model health response for survivors of domestic violence and abuse in acute, community and mental health services, including for children. The pathfinder linked local specialist services to establish a coordinated community response to domestic abuse. The pilot developed a model of best practice which can be adopted by National Health Service trusts. The pathfinder toolkit was published in June 2020 and is available at the following link: https://communications.safelivesresearch.org.uk/Pathfinder%20Toolkit_Final.pdf

Autism and Hyperactivity: Health Services

Kim Leadbeater: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that patients with both ADHD and Autism receive a bespoke and holistic healthcare plan that follow pathways for both conditions.

Gillian Keegan: In July 2021, we published a new national autism strategy aimed at improving care and support for autistic people. The strategy promotes the implementation of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s guidelines on autism, which set out expectations for clinical commissioning groups in relation to autism and managing co-occurring conditions. The guidelines ‘Autism spectrum disorder in under 19s: recognition, referral and diagnosis’ and ‘Autism spectrum disorder in adults: diagnosis and management’ set out that autism assessments should consider and assess for co-occurring conditions, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). These assessments should be used to develop a profile of people’s needs with the aim of developing care and management plans. NHS England and NHS Improvement are working with local authority children’s social care, education services and charities to develop packages to support autistic children and children with ADHD and their families throughout the diagnostic process.

MMR Vaccine

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the number of MMR vaccinations carried out in each of the last three years.

Maria Caulfield: The information is not held in the format requested.

Allergies: Public Appointments

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will appoint an allergy tsar to act as a champion within Government for people living with allergic disease.

Gillian Keegan: We have no current plans to do so. Clinical advice and leadership is provided by the clinical reference group for specialised allergy and immunology services. While there is currently no specific National Clinical Director or Specialty Adviser for routine allergy services, NHS England and NHS Improvement keep this position under review and new National Clinical Directors or Specialty Advisers are appointed as necessary. We are currently working with delivery partners and stakeholders to ensure there is the appropriate workforce, clinical leadership and expert guidance in place to support those living with allergies.

Paediatric Inflammatory Multisystem Syndrome

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of Paediatric Inflammatory Multisystem Syndrome in the NHS.

Maria Caulfield: Following the first reports of paediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome (PIMS) cases in London in April 2020, the former Public Health England initiated enhanced prospective national surveillance of PIMS cases with symptom onset between 1 March and 15 June 2020. NHS England used a rapid consensus exercise to develop national clinical management guidance on the condition.The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommends that clinicians follow guidance from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, which directs critically ill children to acute care facilities. Training for paediatricians on PIMS has been supported by webinars for clinician decision makers and regular updates to paediatric critical care networks. Children with PIMS are identified, including appropriate treatment pathways, supported by seven specialised disease centres co-ordinating treatment advice.

Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome

Stella Creasy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many patients have been diagnosed with Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome in each of the last 10 years; and how many and what proportion of those patients had previously received a prescription for anti-psychotic medication.

Gillian Keegan: This information is not held in the format requested.

England Infected Blood Support Scheme: Hepatitis

Dame Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people who were registered with England Infected Blood Support Scheme as Hepatitis Stage 1 have died with Hepatis C as the cause or a contributing cause of their death.

Maria Caulfield: The information is not available in the format requested and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Home Care Services: Autism

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve the domiciliary support local authorities can provide to households with adult children with autism resident at home (i) in York and (ii) across the country.

Gillian Keegan: Local authorities are required to understand and shape their local markets to ensure a diverse range of person-centred care and support services, including domiciliary care for autistic adults resident at home. Councils across the country, including in York, are set to receive £0.4 million from the increase to the Social Care Grant in 2021/22. We have committed to an increase in funding of more than £70 million to support local authorities to improve services, including to plan and develop the support and care options available. The additional £3.5 billion for local authorities in 2022/23 proposed in the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement will ensure local authorities can respond effectively to pressures on their services, including adult social care.As of January 2022, 87% of domiciliary care agencies were rated good or outstanding by the Care Quality Commission. The updated national autism strategy was published on 21 July 2021. This is supported by £74 million in the first year to improve understanding in society, reduce diagnosis waiting times, and improve access to high-quality health and social care for autistic people.

Breast Cancer: Diagnosis

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much and what proportion of the funding for diagnostic services provided in the last Spending Review has been used to improve the early detection and diagnosis of breast cancer; how that money has been spent; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Caulfield: The most recent data available shows that in 2019, 85.7% of breast cancers were diagnosed at stages 1 and 2, when successful treatment is more likely. Of the additional diagnostic capital allocated in Spending Review 2021, £22 million has been committed to increasing breast screening equipment capacity by 2024/25.

Health Services: Coronavirus

Sir Alan Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to safeguard patients with (a) dementia and (b) other illnesses in the context of the changing way the NHS is having to treat and correspond with patients as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.

Gillian Keegan: During the pandemic, NHS England and NHS Improvement’s guidance to primary care systems stated that a blended approach to appointments should be maintained, using both face to face and remote consultation as per the needs of the patient. This guidance is available at the following link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/wp-content/uploads/sites/52/2021/10/BW999-our-plan-for-improving-access-and-supporting-general-practice-oct-21.pdf We continue to work with stakeholders and health and care system partners to identify and implement actions to support people with dementia and their carers, including modifying dementia diagnosis and care pathways.

Mental Health Services: Children

Bell Ribeiro-Addy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the number of Black, Asian and Minority ethnic children being referred to specialist care for serious mental health problems in each of the last five years.

Gillian Keegan: The following table shows the number of children and young people from a non-white ethnic background with at least one contact with secondary mental health, learning disabilities and autism services. This data collection started in 2017/18, therefore information on previous years is not available.YearNumber of children and young people2017/18 under 18 years old39,8112018/19 under 18 years old52,5882019/20 0 to 18 years old73,8042020/21 0 to 18 years old78,109 Source: Mental Health Service Data Set, NHS DigitalData specific to secondary mental health services and specific mental health condition type is not separately identifiable.Comparisons between years should be made with caution as the number of providers submitting data has increased. For instance, in 2017/18 this increased from 110 providers to 178 in 2018/19 and to 302 in 2019/20.Does not include records where ethnicity has been recorded as either 'Not Stated' or 'Not Known' or is unknown.The source statistics are classified as experimental and undergoing evaluation and should be used with caution.

Local Government Services: Autism

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that services provided by (a) City of York Council and (b) other local authorities are autism-friendly; and what (i) funding, (ii) national guidelines and (iii) training is in place to support local authorities in providing such services.

Gillian Keegan: The Government has established a one-off, unring-fenced 2022/23 Services Grant of £822 million to support priorities identified by local authorities such as the City of York Council, which could include funding for training and staffing to meet the needs of autistic adult residentsThe updated national autism strategy was published on 21 July 2021, supported by over £74 million in the first year to improve understanding of autism in society, reduce diagnosis waiting times and improve access to public services for autistic people, including high quality health and social care. The strategy is supported by the existing statutory guidance for local authorities and National Health Service organisations on implementing the Autism Act 2009. The statutory guidance sets out local authorities’ and NHS organisations’ duties to support autistic adults, including ensuring the accessibility of public services for autistic adults and provision of training to support delivery of these services.

Mental Health: Children

Bell Ribeiro-Addy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to tackle rising mental health disorders amongst under-18s.

Gillian Keegan: We are investing at least an additional £2.3 billion a year to expand mental health services by 2023/24 and enable a further 345,000 children and young people to access National Health Service-funded mental health support. In March 2021, we announced an additional £79 million for children’s mental health services in 2021/22. This will allow approximately 22,500 more children and young people to access community health services, 2,000 more children and young people to access eating disorder services and accelerate the coverage of mental health support teams in schools and colleges.In 2021/22, £15 million has been invested in local authority areas in the most deprived parts of the country for prevention and early intervention services, including for families, children and young people. NHS England and NHS Improvement have also provided a further £40 million in 2021/22 to address the impact of COVID-19 on children and young people’s mental health. In addition, the Government has announced £500 million for support for families, more than £80 million for family hubs.

Mental Health Services: Children

Bell Ribeiro-Addy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of mental health service closures on the number of children waiting to access mental health support.

Gillian Keegan: We have made no formal assessment. The National Health Service Mental Health Dashboard reports 605,012 children and young people have accessed support through NHS-funded community services in Quarter 1 2021/22, the most recently available data. This is an increase from 589,705 at the end of 2020/2021.We have previously announced an additional £79 million to expand capacity in children’s mental health services in 2021/22, allowing 22,500 more children and young people to access community health services; 2,000 more to access eating disorder services; and a faster increase in the coverage of new mental health support teams in schools and colleges.NHS England and NHS Improvement have invested a further £40 million in 2021/22 to address the impact of COVID-19 on children and young people’s mental health. These investments are in addition to the extra £2.3 billion a year for mental health services by 2023/24, which will allow 345,000 more children and young people aged 0 to 25 years old to access NHS-funded mental health support.

Hyperactivity: Mental Health Services

Navendu Mishra: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the waiting times for ADHD assessment in (a) Stockport and (b) England.

Gillian Keegan: Clinical commissioning groups and National Health Service trusts in Stockport and England should have due regard to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s guideline ‘Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: diagnosis and management’. While this guideline does not recommend a maximum waiting time to receive an assessment for ADHD, it aims to improve diagnosis in adults and children and the quality of care and support provided. NHS England and NHS Improvement are working with local authorities’ children’s social care service, education services and expert charities to develop packages to support neurodivergent children, including children with ADHD and their families, through the diagnostic process.

Mental Health Services: Ethnic Groups

Dr Rosena Allin-Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will publish a breakdown by percentage of the ethnicity of all mental health professionals employed by the NHS.

Gillian Keegan: NHS Digital collects Hospital and Community Health Services (HCHS) workforce statistics. These include staff working in hospital trusts and clinical commissioning groups, but not staff working in primary care or in general practitioner surgeries, local authorities or other providers. Data on the National Health Service workforce is collected from the Electronic Staff Record, the human resources and payroll system for the NHS.The following table shows the ethnicity of all HCHS mental health staff working in the NHS, headcount, by percentage as of September 2021.EthnicityPercentageWhite73.5%Black or black British11.5%Asian or Asian British7.0%Not stated2.5%Mixed2.5%Any other ethnic group1.5%Unknown1.0%Chinese0.4%Discontinued codes0.0% Source:https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/nhs-workforce-statistics/september-2021Note:An individual's ethnic category is self-determined.Further information on the Mental Health workforce definition is available at the following link: https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/areas-of-interest/workforce/national-workforce-data-set-nwd-guidance-documents#agreed-definitions

Mental Health Services: Children

Bell Ribeiro-Addy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many children and young people on free school meals were referred to specialist care for serious mental health problems in 2021.

Gillian Keegan: The information requested is not held centrally.

Health Professions: Training

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to his Department's Vision for the Women’s Health Strategy, what steps he is taking to ensure that all healthcare professionals undertake training delivered by specialist organisations so that survivors of domestic abuse receive an effective response the first time.

Gillian Keegan: NHS England are collaborating with the Domestic Abuse Commissioner, domestic abuse peer advocacy services and national helplines to signpost National Health Service staff to existing specialised training. All NHS staff undertake mandatory safeguarding training which includes a focus on domestic abuse. NHS England and NHS Improvement and Health Education England continue to review mandatory safeguarding training for all health professionals.

Care Workers: Coronavirus

Esther McVey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help enable care workers who lost their jobs as a result of the mandatory vaccination policy, to return to the care sector.

Gillian Keegan: On 31 January 2022, the Government announced plans to revoke the requirement for workers in care homes, the National Health Service and wider social care services to be vaccinated against COVID-19. This is subject to consultation and Parliamentary approval.The Government also intends to consult on amending the Code of Practice on infection prevention and control to strengthen requirements in relation to COVID-19. It will be for employers to decide on their recruitment policies in line with the Code of Practice and relevant guidance.

Care Homes: Visits

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether care homes are legally able to deny visits from family or friends if there are positive cases of covid-19 in that care home.

Gillian Keegan: Most care homes are privately run and free to make their own decisions about access to their properties. Before making these decisions, providers should consider the rights and views of their residents and the contractual relationship.Care homes and other providers of social care have legal duties to protect their staff and residents from infection and to provide quality care. Under powers granted by the Coronavirus Act 2020, access to premises can be restricted in certain circumstances if required to prevent the spread of the virus. When there are positive COVID-19 cases within a care home, the guidance states that every resident should be allowed an essential care giver to visit inside the care home. Window or pod visits can continue with other visitors.

Pre-eclampsia: Medical Treatments

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of alternative approaches to tackling preeclampsia.

Maria Caulfield: The Saving Babies Lives Care Bundle Version 2, which has been implemented by trusts across England, recommends that all women undergo a risk assessment for preeclampsia at the start of their pregnancy and are advised to take aspirin if they are identified as being at risk. Women with essential hypertension, who are at greater risk of developing preeclampsia, have been equipped with home blood pressure machines to be safely monitored from their own homes. In 2021, placental growth factor testing was made available in England, an innovative blood test which enables clinicians to quickly and accurately diagnose preeclampsia.

Chronic Illnesses: Coronavirus

Derek Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 13 January 2022 to Question 100534 on Diabetes: Health Services, when his Department plans to publish the findings of the analysis into the impact of the covid-19 outbreak on major health conditions.

Maria Caulfield: We have no current plans to publish this analysis which is subject to validation of the data quality and peer review.

Sheehan's Syndrome

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many women have been diagnosed with Sheehan’s syndrome in (a) Lewisham, Deptford constituency, (b) London and (c) the UK in each of the last five years.

Maria Caulfield: The information requested is not held centrally.

Chronic Illnesses: Health Services

Derek Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 13 January 2022 to Question 100534 on Diabetes: Health Services, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of establishing a recovery fund to support the provision of routine care for (a) diabetes and (b) other long-term conditions.

Maria Caulfield: No formal assessment has been made. The Department continues to work with NHS England and NHS Improvement on the long term recovery of services. An additional £23.3 billion was announced to support the National Health Service in managing the ongoing impact of COVID-19. This includes over £8 billion to reduce the elective care backlog and deliver millions of checks, scans and procedures.

Liver Diseases: Health Services

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what comparative assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the systems for diagnosing and providing early treatment for liver disease in operation in the NHS in (a) Wales and (b) England; if he will make it his policy to bring England's liver disease services in line with those in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Caulfield: NHS England is prioritising all causes of liver disease and mortality, improving the early diagnosis of cancer diagnosis and increased liver surveillance, particularly among patients experiencing multiple health inequalities. Since 2015/16, over 65,000 treatments have been provided to cure hepatitis C, a significant cause of hepatocellular carcinoma and end stage liver disease. Between 2015 and 2020, hepatitis C related mortality has reduced by 20%.No comparative assessment has been made of services in Wales as this is a devolved matter.

Pregnancy: Air Pollution

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department holds data on the proportion of pregnancies put at risk through (a) still birth, (b) preterm birth, (c) low birth weight and (d) congenital abnormalities because of air pollution since 2010.

Maria Caulfield: The information requested is not held centrally.

Dental Services: Congleton

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the announcement of £7,310,000 allocated to the North West to secure additional dental appointments, what assessment he has made of the impact of that funding on access to dental appointments for people in Congleton constituency.

Maria Caulfield: No formal assessment has been made. National Health Service regional teams are currently commissioning additional activity supported by this funding.

HIV Infection: Health Education and Screening

Florence Eshalomi: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that heterosexual men and women (a) are educated about and (b) can access HIV testing in all parts of England.

Maria Caulfield: The HIV Action Plan, published in December 2021, set out our plans to increase HIV testing in England for the whole population, including heterosexual men and women. There will also be a focus on those populations and settings where testing rates should increase, such as black African communities. We will continue to invest over £3.5 million to deliver a national HIV Prevention Programme over the next three years. The Programme aims to raise awareness of HIV and increase knowledge of testing. During National HIV Testing Week from 7 to 13 February 2022, self-sampling HIV testing services were available in England. In addition, we are expanding opt-out testing in accident and emergency departments in local authority areas with the highest prevalence, supported by an investment of £20 million over three years.

Dental Services: North West

Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the ability of patients in (a) Oldham, (b) Greater Manchester and (c) the North West to access NHS dental services in the context of the funding available to deliver NHS dental services relative to patient population.

Maria Caulfield: The North West was allocated £7,310,000 from the additional £50 million recently secured for National Health Service dental services in 2021/22. NHS England set regional budgets based on weighted 2020/21 baseline payments. NHS regional teams are now working with local providers to commission additional activity to improve access for patients in the North West, including Oldham and Greater Manchester.

Clinical Trials

Chris Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress he has made on the implementation of the proposals in his Department's policy paper, Saving and Improving Lives: The Future of UK Clinical Research Delivery; and what funding has been allocated to the longer-term implementation of those proposals.

Maria Caulfield: In June 2021, a phase one implementation plan was published setting out deliverables for 2021/22 and a six-month progress update was published in December 2021. The development of the phase two implementation plan is ongoing, following the outcome of the 2021 Spending Review and further information will be published later this year.The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Department for Health and Social Care recently announced up to £200 million to support National Health Service-led research into diagnostics and treatment through new privacy-preserving platforms and clinical research services.

Dental Services: Stockport

Navendu Mishra: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the number of dental appointments that have been postponed due to the covid-19 pandemic in Stockport.

Maria Caulfield: No estimate has been made as appointments for National Health Service dental treatment are managed directly by dental practices.

Clinical Trials

Chris Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to implement the strategy set out in his Department's policy paper, Saving and Improving Lives: The Future of UK Clinical Research Delivery, to ensure the attractiveness of the UK for early-stage clinical trials.

Maria Caulfield: In June 2021, a phase one implementation plan was published setting out deliverables for 2021/22 and a six-month progress update was published in December 2021. The development of the phase two implementation plan is ongoing, following the outcome of the 2021 Spending Review and further information will be published later this year. We are working with the devolved administrations and, wherever possible, take a United Kingdom-wide approach.On 23 February 2022, the National Institute for Health Research announced approximately £161 million to fund 28 clinical research facilities, expanding the delivery of early phase clinical research in National Health Service hospitals in England.

NHS: Dental Services

Alicia Kearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what additional steps his Department is taking to support NHS dentistry provision, in addition to the £50 million of funding for dentistry announced on 25 January 2022.

Maria Caulfield: During the pandemic, NHS England and NHS Improvement have set activity thresholds for dentists which secures protection of practice National Health Service income. Access to free personal protective equipment will continue until 31 March 2023 or until infection prevention and control guidance is revised or withdrawn. Where data has indicated practices can achieve more activity safely, thresholds have been gradually increased to help improve access for patients. The current threshold is set at 85%. NHS dental practices have been asked to meet as many prioritised needs as possible, focussing first on urgent care and care for vulnerable groups, including children followed by overdue appointments.

Doctors' List of Patients

Bell Ribeiro-Addy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what mechanisms are in place to ensure that ratios of patients to GPs in general practices are maintained at safe levels.

Maria Caulfield: Under the GP Contract each practice is required to provide primary medical services to meet the reasonable needs of their registered patients. As self-employed contractors to the National Health Service, it is for general practitioner (GP) practices to determine the appropriate workforce, including the number and range of health professionals necessary to respond to the needs of their patients. Ensuring the correct mix of skills available in general practice addresses workload pressures, as well as in delivering appropriate patient care.There is no recommendation for the number of patients assigned to a GP, which can be affected by various factors, including rurality and patient demographics.

General Practitioners

Julian Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance his Department issues to GP practices on providing face to face appointments for patients.

Maria Caulfield: NHS England and NHS Improvement’s guidance states that general practices must offer face to face appointments alongside remote appointments, both by telephone and online, and that clinical appropriateness and patient preference should be taken into account. Online tools must always be provided in addition to, rather than as a replacement for, other channels for accessing general practice and practice receptions should be open so that patients without access to telephone or online services are not disadvantaged.

Dental Services: Finance

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the total amount of refunded abatement to the Government for dental activity not completed was in the latest period for which that data is available; and what discussions he has had with relevant stakeholders on the future use of such monies.

Maria Caulfield: During the pandemic, the Government has supported dentists by paying full contract value for lower activity levels. An abatement of 16.75% of total contract value was agreed with the British Dental Association to reflect the lower use of consumables and other variable costs over the period where National Health Service dental activity was reduced. A total abatement of £68,946,814 was made from 1 April to 7 June 2020, when non-urgent NHS dental provision was delivered remotely. A total abatement of £45,244,795 was made from 1 January to 31March 2021, when NHS dental provision was reduced due to infection prevention and control requirements. We have had no discussions with stakeholders on the use of these funds. The NHS is required to provide health services, including dental services, within its funding allocation. Decisions on the use of these funds have been made by the NHS.

General Practitioners

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to monitor the progress of face-to-face appointment availability in GP practices.

Maria Caulfield: The Department regularly engages with NHS England and NHS Improvement to monitor the levels of face to face appointments in general practice. NHS England and NHS Improvement’s guidance states that patients’ input into choices about appointment mode should be sought. Practices should respect preferences for face-to-face care unless there are good clinical reasons to the contrary. Online tools must always be provided in addition to, rather than as a replacement for, other channels for accessing general practice.

Integrated Care Systems and Primary Health Care: Reviews

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress has been made in the review that Amanda Pritchard has asked Dr Claire Fuller to lead on the matter of Primary Care Networks and how they will be supported under Integrated Care Systems.

Maria Caulfield: Dr Claire Fuller has been asked to lead a review of how systems can enable more integrated primary care to improve the health of local communities. This will report later in the spring, ahead of the proposed establishment of integrated care boards and integrated care partnerships. It will provide advice to all integrated care systems on accelerating the implementation of the primary care, community and prevention ambitions in the NHS Long Term Plan. The review is engaging with a range of stakeholders across primary care.

Migraines

Dr Luke Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to increase (a) research into and (b) awareness of migraines and migraine prevention.

Gillian Keegan: The Department funds research on health and social care through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). The NIHR spent £40.3 million on neurological research in 2020/21, which includes research on migraines. While it is not usual practice to ring-fence funding for particular topics or conditions, the NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including migraines.Guidance is available to patients, health care professionals and commissioners on the diagnosis, prevention and management of migraines. This includes guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and the RightCare Headache and Migraines Toolkit. The RightCare toolkit should be used by local clinical commissioning groups to ensure that patients are supported effectively. In addition, the National Neurosciences Advisory Group is currently revising its headache and facial pain optimal clinical pathway.

Incontinence: Health Services

Ed Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what NHS support is available for family carers looking after relatives with continence problems.

Gillian Keegan: Those with continence problems or their carers should request a full assessment from their general practitioner directly or through a referral to a specialist service. ‘Excellence in Continence Care’ provides further information on access to services and is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/excellence-in-continence-care/The National Bladder and Bowel Program is developing evidence-based service pathways to support a consistent approach to continence services and provide a framework.

Care Homes: Coronavirus

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the timetable is for reviewing covid-19 care home guidance to meet the Government's plans to live with covid-19 in the longer term; and what meetings have taken place or are planned to take place with care providers on reviewing the guidance.

Gillian Keegan: From 31 January 2022, the limit on the number of visitors for each care home residents and the requirement for residents to test or isolate following a normal visit out was removed. We have also reduced isolation periods for care home residents to a maximum of 10 days and as few as five days with testing. The guidance for care homes and other care settings is monitored and updated in response to emerging evidence. Ministers and officials have weekly meetings with stakeholders on the development and implementation of policy and guidance for care homes.

Mental Health Services: Children

Bell Ribeiro-Addy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the number of children who live in insecure housing who have been referred to specialist care for serious mental health problems.

Gillian Keegan: The mental health services dataset on the number of children living in insecure housing referred to specialist care for serious mental health conditions shows that 3,221 children were referred in 2020/21 and 3,757 from April to November in 2021/22. However, it should be noted that there has been an increase in the number of providers submitting this data since 2018 and subsequent improvements in data quality.

Incontinence: Health Services

Ed Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what policy framework is guiding NHS (a) performance and (b) quality improvement for continence services.

Gillian Keegan: The National Bladder and Bowel Project is developing evidence-based pathways to support a consistent approach to continence services and will provide a framework for services. NHS England’s ‘Excellence in Continence Care’ provides guidance to enables commissioners, including local authorities, to collaborate with providers and others to improve the care and experience of patients with continence issues.

Mental Health Services: Children and Young People

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the numbers of (a) children and (b) young people showing indication for depression that would identify them in need of support; and what assessment he has made of the change in that level from pre-pandemic levels.

Dan Carden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent estimate he has made of the number of (a) children and (b) young people showing indication for depression that would identify them in need of support; and how those figures compare to pre-pandemic levels.

Gillian Keegan: While no specific assessment has been made, access to children and young people’s mental health services is monitored through the National Health Service Mental Health Dashboard. This records data on the number of children and young people under 18 years old accessing support from NHS-funded community services. We also monitor population prevalence of different conditions through periodic surveys.However, children and young and young people with symptoms of depression may report to primary or secondary care, or to some schools’ services, such as mental health support teams. There is no single dataset for children and young people with symptoms of depression presenting to these services, by condition.‘Mental Health of Children and Young People in England 2021 - wave 2 follow up to the 2017 survey’, published by NHS Digital in September 2021, found that approximately 17.4% of children aged between 6 and 16 years old had a probable mental health disorder in 2021. However, it is not possible to compare rates of depression to those identified in the 2017 survey as the 2021 data does not record the specific condition.

Accident and Emergency Departments: Mental Health Services

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what data his Department holds on the availability of children and young people's specialist mental health professionals in A&E settings.

Gillian Keegan: Data from the National Health Service Mental Health Dashboard in Quarter 1 2021/22 shows that 67% of settings have full or partial coverage of the four key components of a comprehensive children and young people’s mental health crisis service. The components include offering a crisis assessment within the emergency department and in community settings.

Integrated Care Boards

Ed Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when there was last a comprehensive assessment of local continence care service needs; and whether there is a strategy in place to meet those needs in the context of formalising integrated care boards across England.

Gillian Keegan: In 2018, NHS England published ‘Excellence in Continence Care’ to improve the care and experience of patients with continence issues. While no assessment has been made of local continence care service needs, the guidance was produced with patient and public advocates, clinicians and partners from the third sector.Integrated care boards (ICBs) will take on the commissioning functions of clinical commissioning groups and some of NHS England’s commissioning functions. There are no specific requirements on ICBs to assess local continence needs. However, ICBs will be responsible for providing a comprehensive health service for their local populations. ‘Excellence in Continence Care’ is a strategy for commissioners, which will include ICBs once established, to enable collaboration with providers and others.

Mental Health Services: Children and Young People

Dr Rosena Allin-Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many referrals to children and young people’s Mental Health Support Teams (MHST) are refused because the needs of the child or young person are too complex or severe to be met by the MHST.

Gillian Keegan: The information requested is not collected centrally. However, mental health support teams provide advice to school and college staff and where appropriate, refer any complex cases to specialist National Health Service and children and young people’s mental health services.Mental health support teams are designed to support the mental health needs of children and young people in primary, secondary and further education. These teams use an evidence-based approach to provide early intervention for some mental health and emotional wellbeing issues, such as mild to moderate anxiety, and support education settings to develop an approach to mental health and wellbeing.

Hospices: Finance

Tom Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent comparative assessment his Department has made of the equity of statutory income allocation for children's and adult’s hospice provision; and whether it is his policy that children's hospice funding should be equitable to funding for adult hospices.

Gillian Keegan: Clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) are responsible for commissioning local services. NHS England and NHS Improvement expect CCGs to ensure that the provision of palliative and end of life care (PEoLC) services, including children’s and adult’s hospice provision, effectively meets the needs of the local population and ensures high quality personalised care. NHS England is increasing its contribution to children’s PEoLC by match-funding CCGs which commit to increase their investment in local children’s PEoLC services, including hospices. This will increase support from £11 million to £25 million a year by 2023/24. In addition, over £400 million has been made available to adult and children’s hospices since the start of the pandemic to increase National Health Service capacity. NHS England and NHS Improvement are reviewing current models of care, commissioning pathways and financial formulas to ensure the sector support children, young people, their families and loved ones.

Mental Illness: Prisoners

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many and what proportion of people in prison have a diagnosed mental health condition.

Gillian Keegan: This information is not collected in the format requested. However, in 2020/21, data shows that an average of 66,442 people residing in prison had a serious mental illness recorded or 7.44% of the prison population. This does not include those who have accessed primary care mental health services and are treated through normal primary care provision for lower level presentations.

Mental Health: Children

Bell Ribeiro-Addy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the reasons for the increase in child mental health referrals.

Gillian Keegan: While no formal assessment has been made, access to children and young people’s mental health services is monitored through periodic population surveys and the National Health Service Mental Health Dashboard. This records data on the number of children and young people under 18 years old accessing support from NHS-funded community services.‘Mental Health of Children and Young People in England, 2020: Wave 1 follow up to the 2017 survey’ published by NHS Digital in October 2020, found that approximately 16% of children aged between five and 16 years had a probable mental health disorder in 2020, compared to 10.8% in 2017. This may be partially attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Psychiatric Patients: Death

Apsana Begum: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the reasons for the increase in the number of non-Covid-19 related deaths of patients treated under the Mental Health Act 1983 within NHS and independent settings in the 12 months to March 2021.

Apsana Begum: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the reasons for the increase in the number of deaths of patients treated under the Mental Health Act 1983 within NHS and independent settings in the 12 months to March 2021.

Gillian Keegan: Providers have a legal duty to notify the Care Quality Commission (CQC) of deaths of people detained, or liable to be detained, under the Mental Health Act 1983.In the twelve months up to March 2021, the CQC were notified that there were 363 such deaths, including 268 from natural causes, of which 114 were identified as caused by COVID-19. In the previous twelve months to March 2020, the number of deaths notified to the CQC was 240, of which 143 were from natural causes. The data therefore suggests that COVID-19 has been a significant factor in the increase of natural cause deaths in 2020/21.

Heart Diseases: Ambulance Services

Charlotte Nichols: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether there are circumstances in which ambulance services in England should advise those patients who report suffering from a heart attack to call for a taxi to the hospital, rather than seek the assistance of an ambulance.

Edward Argar: Ambulance services respond to all heart attack and suspected heart attack cases according to agreed triage protocols. Only in extreme circumstances may a decision be required to advise higher acuity patients to travel to hospital, such as those with suspected heart attacks. This will only be considered where an ambulance resource will not be available in a sufficiently fast timeframe due to extreme and unforeseen levels of local demand and where it is considered clinically appropriate to do so.

NHS: Staff

Daisy Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to his oral evidence to the Health and Social Care Select Committee's inquiry, Work of the Department, on 25 January 2022, if he will publish the terms of reference for the NHS long-term workforce strategy.

Daisy Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to his oral evidence to the Health and Social Care Select Committee's inquiry, Work of the Department, on 25 January 2022, when he plans to publish the conclusions of his review of the workforce needs for health and social care.

Edward Argar: In July 2021, the Department commissioned Health Education England to work with partners to review long term strategic trends for the health and regulated social care workforce. This long term strategic framework for health and regulated social care workforce planning will ensure we have the appropriate number of staff and the skills, values and behaviours to deliver high quality clinical services and patient care. The framework will also include regulated professionals working in social care, such as nurses and occupational therapists. In addition, the Department has recently commissioned NHS England and NHS Improvement to develop a workforce strategy. Further information on the strategy and its conclusions will be published in due course.

Department of Health and Social Care: Written Questions

Dan Carden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when his Department plans to provide a substantive answer to Question 117883, tabled on 3 February 2022 by the hon Member for Liverpool, Walton.

Edward Argar: I refer the hon. Member to the answer to Question 117883.

Health Services: Employment

Peter Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to his oral evidence to the Health and Social Care Select Committee session on 25 January 2022, Q12, when he plans to publish the upcoming long-term workforce plan.

Edward Argar: In July 2021 the Department commissioned Health Education England (HEE) to work with partners to renew the strategic framework for the workforce. This will include the National Health Service workforce and regulated professionals in the social care workforce to ensure we have the appropriate numbers of staff with the right skills, values and behaviours to deliver high quality services and standards of care. The outcomes will be published in 2022.In addition, the Department has recently commissioned NHS England to develop a workforce strategy following HEE’s framework, including long term projections. Its conclusions will be set out in due course.

Newham Hospital: Repairs and Maintenance

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to Report to the Trust Board: 19 January 2022, published by Barts Health NHS Trust on 19 January 2022, if he will make an assessment of the impact on patient safety of delays to the completion of fire safety works at Newham Hospital.

Edward Argar: There are no plans to make such an assessment. The London Fire Brigade is working with the Trust to ensure their facilities remain safe.

Community Diagnostic Centres: Reviews

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to review the role and scope of community diagnostic hubs; whether he has a timeline for that review; and what steps he plans to take to support public engagement with that review.

Edward Argar: There are 71 community diagnostic centres (CDCs) currently operational. We have announced £2.3 billion to increase this to 160 sites by 2024/2025. We will regularly review the performance of existing CDCs and the future development of further locations.The ‘Delivery plan for tackling the COVID-19 backlog of elective care’ includes the ambitions for CDCs, developed with Royal Colleges, patient groups and health charities, to ensure the plan reflects population and service needs.

Health Services: Employment

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to his oral evidence to the Health and Social Care Select Committee on 25 January 2022, Q12, when he plans to publish further details on the long-term workforce.

Edward Argar: In July 2021 the Department commissioned Health Education England (HEE) to work with partners to renew the strategic framework for the workforce. This will include the National Health Service workforce and regulated professionals in the social care workforce to ensure we have the appropriate numbers of staff with the right skills, values and behaviours to deliver high quality services and standards of care. The outcomes will be published in 2022.In addition, the Department has recently commissioned NHS England to develop a workforce strategy following HEE’s strategic framework, including long term projections. Its conclusions will be set out in due course.

NHS and Social Services: Coronavirus

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish all Departmental documents, evidence and research in relation to the Government's mandatory covid-19 vaccination policy for (a) NHS staff and (b) social care staff.

Edward Argar: Following consideration of the changes in the pandemic a result of the Omicron variant and the continued success of the vaccination programme, the Government confirmed on 1 March 2022 that vaccination will no longer be a condition of deployment for health and social care staff.The clinical rationale and evidence for revoking these requirements was set out in the published consultation document, which is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/revoking-vaccination-as-a-condition-of-deployment-across-all-health-and-social-care/revoking-vaccination-as-a-condition-of-deployment-across-all-health-and-social-careThe Government also assessed vaccine efficacy data from the UK Health Security Agency, which is available at the following link:www.gov.uk/guidance/monitoring-reports-of-the-effectiveness-of-covid-19-vaccination

Hospitals: Admissions

Stella Creasy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many patients have been admitted to NHS hospitals from private hospitals in each of the last 30 months.

Edward Argar: The information is not held in the format requested.

Liver Diseases: Coronavirus

Elliot Colburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the impact of the covid-19 pandemic on patients with liver disease and the recent ONS data showing a 20 per cent increase in alcohol-related liver disease deaths in 2020.

Gillian Keegan: Rates of admission to hospital where the primary diagnosis was liver disease decreased in 2020-21 compared with 2019-20. Rates of admission to hospital for alcoholic liver disease increased over the same period.The government published a report in July 2021 on the changes of alcohol consumption and harm during the COVID-19 pandemic. Deaths from alcoholic liver disease in 2020 accounted for 80.3% of total alcohol specific deaths. In 2020, there were 5,608 deaths from alcoholic liver disease, a 20.8% increase from the 4,643 deaths in 2019. The increase has been linked with to increased alcohol consumption among heavy drinkers.The report is available at the following link:www.gov.uk/government/publications/alcohol-consumption-and-harm-during-the-covid-19-pandemic

Social Services: Fees and Charges

Mike Amesbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 7 March 2022 to Question 132351 on Social Services: Fees and Charges, what assessment he has made of the sufficiency of (a) guidance to local authorities in relation to the charging policy and (b) finances provided to local authorities to provide free personal care.

Gillian Keegan: The ‘Care and support statutory guidance’ was reviewed following the findings of SH v Norfolk County Council and was found to be sufficient.Individuals should be charged for their care and support costs based on how much they can afford to pay. From October 2023, the Government will introduce an £86,000 cap on the amount an individual will have to pay towards their care. This will be accompanied by a more generous means-testing system for those with low or no assets. An additional £3.6 billion will be provided to local authorities during the current Spending Review period to support these reforms.

Mental Health Services: Asylum

Bell Ribeiro-Addy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the number of asylum children who live in hotel accommodation who have been referred to specialist care for serious mental health problems.

Gillian Keegan: No estimate has been made.

Abortion

Olivia Blake: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the evidential basis is for suspending early medical abortion at home services in the context of evidence from clinical bodies and peer review studies which have found that service to be safe and effective.

Maggie Throup: The Government’s view is that the provision of early medical abortion should return to pre-COVID-19 arrangements. We have been clear that the approval was put in place on 30 March 2020 to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 and ensure continued access to abortion services. This was made on a temporary basis and was time limited for two years, or when the temporary Coronavirus Act 2020 provisions end.Due to the success the national vaccination programme and having fully considered all the responses to the consultation, we have decided that face to face services should resume.

Vaccination: Young People

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent discussions he has had with the Royal College of Nursing on vaccine uptake in teenagers.

Maggie Throup: We have had no specific discussions with the Royal College of Nursing. The Department works with the UK Health Security Agency, NHS England and NHS Improvement and the Department of Education to increase vaccine uptake in teenagers, engaging with a range of stakeholders.

Coronavirus: Greater London

Stella Creasy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 26 January 2022 to Question 108519 on Coronavirus: Greater London, how many patients identified through national databases living in the (a) E17, (b) E11, (c) E10, (d) E4 and (e) E5 postcodes have been sent a letter confirming their eligibility for new covid-19 treatments as of 26 January 2022.

Maggie Throup: The information is not held centrally in the format requested.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

James Wild: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress he has been made in enabling the use of non-injectable covid-19 vaccines in the UK.

Maggie Throup: The Department commissions research through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). Alternative delivery methods for COVID-19 vaccines are currently in early clinical research stages and the NIHR and UK Research and Innovation have funded rapid research. This includes £580,000 awarded to Imperial College London for a study on the safety and lower airway immunogenicity of two candidate COVID-19 vaccines administered to the respiratory tract. The NIHR is currently providing infrastructure support to two phase one studies in this area. As the largest public funder of health and care research, the NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including alternative vaccine delivery methods.

Evusheld: Procurement

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what his timeframe is for reaching an agreement with relevant companies on the purchase of doses of the covid-19 antibody drug, Evusheld.

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how his Department plans to use the covid-19 antibody drug, Evusheld, in the event that it receives MHRA approval.

Maggie Throup: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for St Albans (Daisy Cooper MP) on 7 March 2022 to Question 131326.

Coronavirus: Screening

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 3 March 2022 to Question 131118, on what date further advice will be given to people who are clinically vulnerable, clinically extremely vulnerable and immunocompromised eligible for free covid-19 lateral flow tests beyond 1 April 2022.

Maggie Throup: We are currently considering which at risk groups should continue to be eligible for free testing. We will provide further information as soon as possible.

Antibiotics: Drug Resistance

Martyn Day: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to Tackling antimicrobial resistance 2019–2024: The UK’s five-year national action plan, what progress has been made on the objective to halve healthcare associated Gram-negative blood stream infections; and if he will make a statement.

Maggie Throup: Due to the diverse nature of the underlying causes of these infections, achieving the target to halve healthcare-associated Gram-negative blood stream infections is very challenging. We have therefore commissioned modelling of clinical pathways of Gram-negative blood stream infection and the impact of various interventions, to consider whether the target should be adjusted and, if so, what an appropriate target may be.

Education: Health Professions

Geraint Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Education on workforce planning for healthcare professionals who work in education settings.

Geraint Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Justice on workforce planning for healthcare professionals working in justice settings.

Edward Argar: We have had no specific discussions.

Department of Health and Social Care: Management Consultants

Wes Streeting: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what his Department's total spend was on management consultants for the year 2020-21.

Wes Streeting: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the total spend by NHS England was on management consultants in 2020-21.

Edward Argar: The information requested is shown in the following table.OrganisationExpenditure on consultancy3 in 2020/21 £ millionDepartment of Health and Social Care171.6NHS England - Statutory Entity113.6NHS England - Group251.6 Notes:1Includes expenditure by commissioning support units but excludes clinical commissioning groups (CCGs).2Expenditure for NHS England Group including commissioning support units and CCGs.3The definition for consultancy is in line with HM Treasury guidance.

Care Homes: Visits

Charlotte Nichols: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will confirm the remaining rules on visiting hospitals following the easing of covid-19 restrictions.

Edward Argar: Policies for hospital visiting are now at the discretion of local National Health Service trust or organisation. We expect providers to facilitate visits while managing any infection risks.

Coronavirus: Protective Clothing

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 28 February 2022 to Question 110376 on Coronavirus: Protective Clothing, on what grounds this information has been deemed commercially sensitive.

Edward Argar: The Department remains in commercial discussions and therefore the information requested could prejudice commercial interests.

Health Services

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment his Department has made of progress towards publishing the National Implementation Plan to support the delivery of the NHS Long Term Plan.

Edward Argar: The development of the National Implementation Plan was delayed due to the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The delivery of commitments within the NHS Long Term Plan has been monitored. The Department and NHS England plan to publish an update to the NHS Long Term Plan later this year to take account of the impact of the pandemic. Further detail on implementation will follow.

NHS and Social Services: Coronavirus

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans for NHS and social care staff to be vaccinated again after 10 weeks of receiving their booster vaccine to enable continued protection against covid-19.

Edward Argar: On 21 February 2022, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advised offering second booster doses to some individuals as part of the spring COVID-19 vaccination programme. The primary aim of the programme is to reduce the risk of severe disease across the population. For this reason and because protection against severe COVID-19 appears to decline slowly, the most vulnerable groups have been prioritised for a further booster vaccination this spring.COVID-19 is more serious in older people and those with a weakened immune system. Protection from the vaccine may be lower and may decline more quickly. For this reason, people aged 75 years old and over, those in care homes and those aged 12 years old and over with a weakened immune system are being offered this booster dose.This dose is being offered as a precaution to those at extremely high risk, most of whom received their first booster approximately six months ago. If the number of infections increases over the summer, this will reduce the risk of vulnerable people being admitted to hospital with COVID-19.There are no current plans to offer this booster to National Health Service and social care staff. The JCVI continues to consider the latest available data, particularly in relation to the timing and value of any further doses.

Cystic Fibrosis and Sickle Cell Diseases: Health Services

Marsha De Cordova: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the availability of innovative treatments for patients with (a) sickle cell disease and (b) cystic fibrosis.

Edward Argar: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) makes recommendations for the National Health Service on the clinical and cost effectiveness of new medicines. The NHS is legally required to fund medicines positively appraised by NICE, usually within three months of the publication of its final guidance. NICE has recently recommended crizanlizumab for the prevention of sickle cell crises, subject to a managed access agreement between the manufacturer and NHS England and NHS Improvement.In 2020, NHS England and NHS Improvement agreed a four year interim access deal with Vertex for its portfolio of cystic fibrosis medicines in line with the marketing authorisations. This is supported by NICE and will allow eligible NHS patients to benefit from access to innovative treatments for cystic fibrosis while further evidence is collected to inform a future NICE evaluation. Further groups of patients may access these treatments if licences are updated during the term of the agreement.

NHS Trusts: Management Consultants

Wes Streeting: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much NHS trusts in England spent on management consultants in 2020-21.

Edward Argar: The information requested is shown in the following table.National Health Service provider expenditure on consultancy in 2020/21 £ million234.0 Source: Consolidated NHS provider accounts 2020/21, HC1030.Note: The definition for consultancy is in line with HM Treasury guidance.

Cancer: Nurses

Dan Carden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what financial provision has been made to support training of the future cancer nurse specialist workforce.

Edward Argar: As part of a £52 million investment in the cancer and diagnostics workforce in 2021/22, Health Education England is offering 250 training grants to enable existing and aspiring cancer nurse specialists to undertake additional training to develop specialist clinical, leadership, education and research capabilities. Spending plans for individual budgets, including for training cancer nurse specialists, for 2022/23 to 2024/25 are subject to a detailed financial planning exercise and will be finalised in due course.

Sickle Cell Diseases: Health Services

Marsha De Cordova: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to paragraph 19 of the NICE report entitled The NICE methods of health technology evaluation: the case for change, published in November 2020, what assessment his Department has made of potential impact of introducing a health inequalities modifier to patient access to treatments for sickle cell disease.

Edward Argar: No such assessment has been made. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is responsible for its procedures and recently concluded a review of its methods and processes for health technology evaluation. NICE considered health inequalities as part of the review and consulted on its proposals with stakeholders. Following this consultation, NICE concluded that more work is needed before a formalised modifier for health inequalities could be introduced.Health inequalities are considered in all aspects of NICE’s work. NICE has committed to reducing health inequalities by prioritising areas which target specific populations or conditions where there is most variation in practice or outcomes, where there can be the greatest impact and to accelerate access to most effective treatments.

Allergies: Medical Equipment

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether GPs can prescribe EpiPens for anaphylaxis; and what mitigations are in place for children who have received a diagnosis of anaphylaxis and are required to wait for an EpiPen to be prescribed by a consultant.

Edward Argar: Clinicians are responsible for making prescribing decisions for their patients, taking into account best practice and the local commissioning decisions of the respective clinical commissioning group. There are no restrictions on the licence which precludes general practitioners from prescribing these products and no requirement in the Summary of Product Characteristics that EpiPens may only be prescribed by specialists or consultants.

Mental Health Services: Young People

Colleen Fletcher: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the availability of mental health services for young people in (a) Coventry North East constituency, (b) Coventry, (c) the West Midlands and (d) England.

Gillian Keegan: While no formal assessment has been made, access to services is monitored through the National Health Service Mental Health Dashboard. This records data on the number of children and young people under 18 years old accessing support from National Health Service funded community services at national, regional, sustainability and transformation partnership, and clinical commissioning group level.

Diabetes

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people were diagnosed with diabetes in each year between (a) 2011 and (b) 2021.

Maria Caulfield: The following table shows the number of adults diagnosed with diabetes in each year from 2011 to 2020. Data for 2021 is not yet available. The National Diabetes Audit (NDA) does not hold comprehensive data on children with diabetes. YearType 1 diagnosesType 2 and other diagnoses20117,615150,10520128,055165,22020138,165182,51520148,365173,89520159,080196,73020169,270202,94020178,970195,44520189,210220,54520199,820237,530202011,730198,600 Source: NHS DigitalNotes:The NDA does not hold comprehensive data on children with diabetes.Diabetes type is reported as ‘Type 1’ and ‘Type 2 and other’ within the NDA.Type 1’ includes where a person is recorded as having Type 1 diabetes in the NDA.‘Type 2 and other’ includes where a person is recorded as having Type 2 diabetes, Maturity-onset Diabetes of the Young, other or non-specified diabetes in the NDA.Figures are based on people who appear in the 2020/21 NDA who have a new diagnosis of diabetes in the relevant calendar year.Disclosure control has been applied to all figures, as per the NDA publication - all numbers are rounded to the nearest 5, unless the number is 1 to 7, in which case it is rounded to ‘5’.

Coronavirus: Health Services

Sir Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much money (a) NHS England and (b) NHS Improvement has provide for care for those with (i) long covid and (b) covid-19 vaccine damage in 2021-22; and what the budget is for such care in 2022-23.

Maria Caulfield: Since November 2020, NHS England and NHS Improvement have invested £224 million to develop and deliver services for people experiencing persistent symptoms following COVID-19 infection. This includes £90 million for 2022/23.The information for those with COVID-19 vaccine damage is not available in the format requested.

Coronavirus: Health Services

Sir Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much his Department has allocated towards research to improve the diagnosis and treatment of (a) covid-19 vaccine damage, (b) long covid triggered by covid-19 vaccines and (c) long covid resulting from covid-19 infection.

Maria Caulfield: The Department commissions research through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). The Government has allocated £1.6 million for a programme to understand the rare condition of blood clotting with low platelets following vaccination for COVID-19. There is no suggestion at this time that persistent long term symptoms of COVID-19 results from vaccination, as it is associated with having contracted the virus. The NIHR is supporting research on the safety of COVID-19 vaccinations and has invested £50 million in research into the long term effects of the virus.

NHS: Pensions

Wes Streeting: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the total cost to the Exchequer has been of the retire and return easements for NHS pensions since March 2020.

Wes Streeting: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of cost to the Exchequer of extending the retire and return easements for NHS pensions to October 2022.

Edward Argar: The easement which could potentially have an associated cost is the abatement of pensions, where the value of the pension plus earnings on returning to work does not exceed earnings before the pension was taken. The vast majority of staff are not subject to abatement after taking their pension, which applies to ‘special class’ staff with the right to take an unreduced pension at 55 years old, who return to work between the ages of 55 and 60 years old. In general, this staff group reduce their working hours or do not return to employment in order to avoid their pension being abated, therefore these easements increase the amount of work they are able to offer with little to no cost to the Exchequer.

Leader of the House

Leader of the House of Commons: Social Media

Geraint Davies: To ask the Leader of the House, how much his Department spent on social media advertising in (a) 2019, (b) 2020, (c) 2021 and (d) 2022 up to and including 28 February; and on which platforms that money was spent.

Mark Spencer: The Office of the Leader of the House of Commons is part of the Cabinet Office. I refer the hon. member to the response from the Cabinet Office (133915).

Department for Education

Universities: Carbon Emissions

Olivia Blake: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he plans to take to support universities in the transition to net zero.

Michelle Donelan: In November 2021 we set out a draft Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy for the education sector. Within this we have set out our strategic aim for net zero. We have been engaging with higher education to seek their feedback on the draft ahead of publishing a final strategy in April 2022. As part of this work, we have supported the Queen’s Jubilee Challenge for the further education (FE) and HE sectors to accelerate a sector-led review, so that by calendar year 2024 all FE and HE settings will be reporting their emissions via a standardised framework.

Question

Mrs Sheryll Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to help promote the value of technical qualifications.

Alex Burghart: The department is strengthening routes for all students to progress through the system, by introducing high-quality technical qualifications that support young people’s progression and meet the needs of employers.In January this year the department launched our ‘Get the Jump’ campaign, which helps 14-19 year olds explore all their education and training options. We recognise that technical education routes have lower levels of awareness, therefore this campaign spotlights T Levels, Apprenticeships, Traineeships and Higher Technical Qualifications in particular.The department is also working closely with the Careers and Enterprise Company and Apprenticeship Support and Knowledge programme to ensure that teachers and careers leaders have the information and resources they need to communicate the benefits of T Levels to their students.

Further Education: Finance

Mr Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much and what proportion of funding allocated to the 16-19 Education Budget has been spent specifically on (a) Level 3 qualifications (b) Level 2 qualifications (c) Level 1 qualifications and d) entry qualifications over the last three academic years.

Michelle Donelan: It is not possible to link 16 to 19 funding specifically to qualification levels because it is calculated and allocated per student. The attached tables set out the total number (Table 1) and proportion (Table 2) of 16 to 19 enrolments by level for the 2018/19, 2019/20 and 2020/21 academic years. Further information about 16 to 19 funding allocations is available here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/16-to-19-education-funding-allocations#published-allocations.137297_ table (pdf, 15.0KB)

Childminding: Coronavirus

Sir Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will amend his Department's guidance in relation to childminders and covid-19 so that childminders can operate in circumstances where someone in their household has tested positive for, or has symptoms of, covid-19; and if he will make a statement.

Will Quince: Keeping children and staff safe is the government’s priority. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the department has listened carefully to the latest scientific and medical advice when developing guidance.On 24 February 2022, the government removed the legal requirement for people with COVID-19 to self-isolate. However, if anyone has any of the main symptoms or a positive test result, the public health advice remains unchanged and is to stay at home and avoid contact with other people. The ‘COVID-19: people with COVID-19 and their contacts’ guidance also advises that people with symptoms of COVID-19 or a positive test result should not have social visitors to the home. This guidance is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-people-with-covid-19-and-their-contacts/covid-19-people-with-covid-19-and-their-contacts.In light of the changes to the legal requirement to self-isolate, the department has reviewed and updated the guidance for childminders with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and it can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/additional-actions-for-childminders-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic/additional-actions-for-childminders-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic.The guidance continues to be that childminders should not childmind in their home when someone living there has tested positive or has symptoms of COVID-19. This is because there is a higher risk of transmission to those attending the provision for childcare as they are in close proximity to the case and for extended periods of time.In the guidance, the department has also outlined the options for childminders to continue childminding if there is someone who has tested positive or has symptoms of COVID-19 in their home.The department will continue to work with the UKHSA to keep its guidance under review and make sure that the right control measures are in place for childminders.

Social Workers: Recruitment

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the value for money of fast-track social work programmes.

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made on the effectiveness of fast-track social work programmes.

Will Quince: Investing in the social workers of the future is essential to building a profession that is best able to protect and care for vulnerable children and families.The Frontline and Step Up to Social Work fast-track programmes demonstrate clear value for money and effectiveness in supporting the government’s commitment to improving the recruitment and retention of social workers. Both programmes account for an increasing proportion of postgraduate social work enrolments. Investment in fast-track social work programmes, alongside university social work education, supports local authority social worker recruitment by providing top quality training to candidates who may not have previously considered social work as a career.An evaluation of Frontline, conducted by Cardiff University and published in March 2016, found Frontline participants to be highly skilled in their practice quality. The report is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/frontline-pilot-independent-evaluation.A further study, undertaken by Cardiff University to track the retention and progression of Frontline and Step Up to Social Work graduates, found no evidence that attrition rates for fast-track trained social workers at 18 months after qualification are higher than they are for social workers trained via mainstream programmes. The report also found that social workers trained by fast-track programmes demonstrate good progression and high job satisfaction. The final report was published in December 2021 and is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/social-work-fast-track-programmes-tracking-study.

Special Educational Needs: Coronavirus

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 28 February 2022 to Question 125334 on Special Educational Needs: Coronavirus, if he will publish the local authorities targeted for an increase in training available to early years SENDCO.

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 28 February 2022 to Question 125334 on Special Educational Needs: Coronavirus, if he will publish his Department's criteria for determining which local authorities to target with an increase in training available to early years SENDCO.

Will Quince: We are in the process of procuring for additional special educational needs coordinators training for early years. We are aiming to target training in the following local authorities: BarnsleyGloucestershireRedcar and ClevelandBath and North East SomersetHaltonRochdaleBirminghamHartlepoolRotherhamBlackpoolHerefordshireSalfordBoltonHertfordshireSheffieldBradfordKingston upon Hull, City ofSolihullBrighton and HoveKirkleesSomersetBristol, City ofKnowsleySouth GloucestershireBuckinghamshireLancashireSouth TynesideCalderdaleLeedsSt. HelensCambridgeshireLeicestershireStaffordshireCentral BedfordshireLincolnshireStockportCheshire EastLiverpoolStockton-on-TeesCheshire West and ChesterManchesterStoke-on-TrentCornwallMedwaySurreyCoventryMiddlesbroughTamesideCumbriaNewcastle upon TyneTorbayDarlingtonNorfolkWakefieldDerbyshireNorth East LincolnshireWalsallDevonNorth TynesideWest SussexDoncasterNorth YorkshireWiganDorsetNorthamptonshireWirralDudleyNottinghamshireWolverhamptonDurhamOldhamWorcestershireEast Riding of YorkshireOxfordshireGatesheadPortsmouth These local authorities have been identified using metrics to measure levels of disadvantage in individual local authorities. The metrics used are: rates of access to free school meals alongside Early Years Foundation Stage profile outcomes, % of children eligible for Early Years Pupil Premium, % of children in receipt of an Education and Healthcare Plan and COVID-19 cases rate per 100,000 resident population across the length of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Children: Social Services

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 28 February to Question 125329 Children: Social Services, how many local authorities have completed and implemented local protocols for assessment as of 9 March 2022.

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant Answer of 28 February 2022 to Question 125329 on Children: Social Services, what steps his Department takes to monitor the adequacy of local authorities’ local protocols in keeping children safe and responding to referrals.

Will Quince: ‘Working together to safeguard children’ (2018) is statutory guidance setting out the legislative requirements placed on individual services and also a framework for the three local safeguarding partners (the local authority, a clinical commissioning group for any area falling within the local authority and the chief officer of police for a police area falling within the local authority area) to make arrangements to work together to safeguard and promote the welfare of local children and respond to their needs. The guidance is clear that local authorities, with their safeguarding partners, should develop and publish local protocols for assessment, which should set out clear arrangements for how cases will be managed once a child is referred into local authority children’s social care, consistent with the requirements in the statutory guidance. While all organisations and agencies have a responsibility to understand their local protocol, it is the local authority which is publicly accountable for this protocol. The complaints procedure for children and families who wish to challenge the assessment protocol should be published as part of the protocol. Ofsted inspections are concerned with the direct experience of children and their families, and will assess how any protocols work in practice. The department and Ofsted do not collect or hold data on whether local authorities have completed and implemented local protocols for assessment.

Apprentices: Hospitality Industry

Dawn Butler: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many apprenticeships have been started in the hospitality industry in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Alex Burghart: The most recent statistics on apprenticeship starts by industry sector cover the academic years 2012/13 to 2019/20 and are published on GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/apprenticeships-in-england-by-industry-characteristics.The attached table shows the number of apprenticeship starts in the accommodation and food service industry in England between academic years 2015/16 and 2019/20.137257_table (xlsx, 22.0KB)

Universities: Admissions

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the proposals in relation to Minimum Eligibility Requirements included in the Higher Education policy statement and reform consultation will apply to university students currently enrolled on a degree course.

Michelle Donelan: I can confirm that any potential MER, if implemented, would not apply to students currently in L6 study and in receipt of student loans.

Training: Regional Planning and Development

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many additional people are targeted to complete high-quality skills training as set out in the Levelling Up in the United Kingdom White Paper for each year to 2030.

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many of the 200,000 additional people targeted to complete high-quality skills training as set out in the Levelling Up in the United Kingdom White Paper are planned to be on (a) on STEM courses, (b) apprenticeships and (c) young people up to the age of 25.

Alex Burghart: The mission of 200,000 additional people completing high-quality skills training will focus on increasing the number of adults (those aged 19 and over) completing high-quality skills training, including science, technology, engineering, and mathematics courses and apprenticeships. The department knows that successfully completing these courses improves people’s earnings and life chances and helps them get good jobs. The department already has a range of high-quality training offers available to adults across every region of the country, including Skills Bootcamps, the free courses for jobs offer, as well as access to free courses in English, mathematics, and basic digital skills. Reforms to the skills and further education system are improving quality and driving up access further. Meeting the mission will depend on the national government, mayoral combined authorities, local authorities, employers and skills providers working together. The missions are rolling decade-long endeavours and will be reviewed periodically by the UK government.

Ministry of Justice

Prison Officers: Disciplinary Proceedings

Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prison officers have had disciplinary action taken against them relating to either the supply or use of drugs in each of the last ten years.

Victoria Atkins: HM Prison & Probation Service is proactive in detecting, investigating and taking disciplinary action against the small number of prison staff who break the rules, and involve the police where appropriate. We are also spending £100m on tightening up prison security, including through X-Ray body scanners and drug dogs to stop contraband getting into our prisons Prison officers who are found to be unfit for duty through drug abuse or taking prohibited drugs while at work or on duty are subject to procedures set out in the HMPPS Conduct and Discipline policy. Such misconduct may lead to disciplinary action up to and including dismissal. In the last ten years, 33 prison officers have faced a disciplinary action charge linked to drink and drug related offences and I have included a further year-by-year breakdown of these charges below. Currently, HMPPS records drink and drugs charges within the same category on their HR system. It is therefore not possible to provide data for drug offences alone.Table 1: Band 3-5 Prison Officer staff charged with selected offences related to drink and drugs, 2011/12 to 2020/212011/122012/132013/142014/152015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202020/21 (p)Total~7~345~4~533 Source: NOMS Case Management Application and HMPPS electronic Performance Management (ePM)Notes:1). Band 3-5 Officers includes Band 3-4 / Prison Officers (incl specialists), Band 4 / Supervising Officers, and Band 5 / Custodial Managers.2). Conduct and discipline cases are defined as where a penalty has been imposed on a member of HMPPS staff for a reason of conduct.3). Staff with at least one conduct and discipline case concluded during the year.4). A case is defined as a unique combination of case and individual member of staff. Where more than one member of staff is involved in a single case these are counted separately in this table. Equally staff involved in more than one case during the year are counted multiple times.5). The disciplinary charges include the following:- Unfit for duty through drink/drugs- Trafficking and sub charge of drugs-Criminal conviction and sub charge of possession /supply of drugs It is impossible to separate out drinks and drugs, therefore, the table above may over represent officers subject to disciplinary action due to drugs.~ Denotes suppressed values of 2 or fewer or other values which would allow values of 2 or fewer to be derived by subtraction. Low numbers are suppressed to prevent disclosure in accordance with the Data Protection Act, 2018.(p) Provisional data

Prisoners' Release: Employment

Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of prisoners were in work after six months of release in each of the last ten years.

Kit Malthouse: It is a priority for this government to increase the proportion of prison leavers in employment following release. To support this, we are introducing specialist employment leads across the estate, linking prisons and industry through Employment Advisory Boards and changing the law so that prisoners are able to apply for apprenticeship opportunities in vital industries, including hospitality and construction. Our new build prisons, such as HMP Five Wells, are being built with education, training and jobs at their heart. We do not hold this data because the department started recording personal circumstances for employment in 2016. Validated data will be regularly published in future, with the first update no later than July 2022.

Prison Accommodation

Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 2 March 2022 to Question 128274, on Prison Accommodation, how many prison places will be created at each of the 16 sites.

Victoria Atkins: At this stage of the planning process, we cannot yet provide a full breakdown of the places being created at each of the 16 sites, as planning permission applications are either ongoing or have yet to be commenced.

Ministry of Justice: Accidents

Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 7 March 2022 to Question 132268, on Ministry of Justice: Accidents, if he will publish data for how much compensation his Department has paid out following accidents that have taken place in courts in England and Wales in each of the last five years, by area.

James Cartlidge: The following table sets out the total amount of compensation paid to individuals by area by the Ministry of Justice in each of the last five financial years, where those payments relate to claims or potential claims made against the department in respect of accidents that took place on the estate administered by HM Courts and Tribunals Service geographic areas.  2017/182018/192019/202020/212021/22London£38,748£41,100£87,700£61,000£101,150Midland£270,413£30,921£20,714£20,845£37,482North East£42,800£322,230£30,200£15,900£4,000North West£16,500£88,891£16,300£20,050£39,850South East£18,000£8,500£7,375£5,000£134,495South West£0£0£9,320£3,750£10,500Wales£11,888£11,050£9,912£0£12,000Total£398,349£502,692£181,521£126,545£339,477 *Figures correct as end of February 22There is no geographical trend evident, by which accidents occur. Health and safety risks are routinely monitored for any such trends, and that analysis informs the management of risks across the estate.

Ministry of Justice: Accidents

Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 7 March 2022 to Question 132268, on Ministry of Justice: Accidents, if he will publish data on how much compensation his Department has paid out following accidents that have taken place in courts in England and Wales in each of the last three years inclusive of legal costs paid by his Department.

James Cartlidge: The following table sets out the total amount of compensation paid to individuals and the costs paid to legal representatives, by the Ministry of Justice in each of the last three financial years, where those payments relate to claims or potential claims made against the department in respect of accidents that took place on the estate administered by HM Courts and Tribunals Service. Variation in levels of payments and costs between years is determined by a range of factors, but principally the severity of the injuries and associated impacts sustained or suffered by respective claimants.The payment of compensation or costs in any particular year does not necessarily relate to the timing of the accident or incident concerned. In more complex and contentious cases, the accidents concerned may have occurred some years before the settlement payments are made.  2019/202020/212021/22* Compensation£181,521£126,545£339,477 Costs£434,483£106,439£360,062 Combined Total£616,004£232,984£699,539 **Figures provided up to end of Feb 2022

Legal Aid Agency

Darren Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if his Department will publish the funding agreements for Legal Aid Agency's immigration legal aid contracts that are expected to commence from September 2022.

James Cartlidge: The existing 2018 Standard Civil Legal Aid Contract is being extended until 31 August 2023 with the exception of the Immigration category which will be extended for a shorter period. The length of the Immigration extension will be communicated as soon as agreed. Payment for legal aid work carried out under the 2018 Standard Civil Legal Aid Contract is subject to the rates and provisions set out in the Civil Legal Aid (Remuneration) Regulations 2013. The department will be consulting in Spring 2022 on new immigration fees as a result of the Nationality and Borders Bill, and any future Immigration contract will be tendered on the basis of these proposals, once finalised and subject to consultation. Details about future contracts will be published on the Legal Aid Agency’s tender page https://www.gov.uk/topic/legal-aid-for-providers/tenders. The Legal Aid Agency will be contacting all current civil contract providers shortly to confirm its intentions.

Criminal Proceedings: Legal Aid Scheme

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much criminal legal aid has been spent on the Litigators' Graduated Fee Scheme in each of the last 10 years.

James Cartlidge: The amount spent from the public purse by the Secretary of State for Justice on the Litigators’ Graduated Fee Scheme in the last 10 years is published in the Legal Aid Statistics in England and Wales. Statistics on legal aid volumes and expenditure are published at: Legal aid statistics: July to September 2021 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). It should be noted that figures are not final and may increase. This is because cases are billed by legal representatives at the conclusion of the case. Some cases which commenced in previous years, and in particular in the last financial year, may still be ongoing and therefore no final claim will have been submitted for payment.

Courts

Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 7 March 2022 to Question 132269, on Courts, if he will provide details of the courts in England that do not have separate entrances for victims and witnesses.

James Cartlidge: Safety and protection of victims and witnesses coming to courts is a priority for HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS), and those courts that do not have dedicated separate entrances all have processes in place to enable victims and witnesses to use alternative secure routes to get into a court so they would not have to enter alongside defendants. These processes include using alternative entrances including staff and judicial entrances, staggering the time people are asked to arrive at court, arranging for Witness Service representatives to meet and escort victims and witnesses and using separate waiting areas where available or annexes to court buildings or other buildings so that victims can join the hearing via video.Any court attendee who has questions or concerns about going to a court building can contact the court. They can also speak to their witness care officer or the Crown Prosecution Service if they have any concerns about entering the court and may need to enter separately from a defendant. They can also ask their witness care officer to refer them to Victim Support if they live in London or the Citizens Advice Witness Service if they live outside of London, and these organisations can arrange a pre-trial visit to the court. Further information for victims and witnesses going to court is also available at www.gov.uk/going-to-court-victim-witness.

Reoffenders: Costs

Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the (a) economic and (b) social effects of reoffending by area in England in each of the last five years.

Kit Malthouse: The economic and social cost of reoffending in England and Wales is approximately £18 billion per year. However, this figure cannot be broken down by geographical area.The Prisons Strategy White Paper, published in December 2021, sets out the Government’s ambitious plans to reduce reoffending. We will spend £200 million a year by 2024-25 to improve prison leavers’ access to accommodation, employment support and substance misuse treatment and further measures for early intervention to tackle youth offending. This builds on the Beating Crime Plan, published in July 2021, in which this Government committed to beat crime and swiftly bring criminals to justice.We will also introduce new personalised Resettlement Passports, which will be set up prior to release and will bring together the key information and services that an individual needs to resettle into society.This investment will protect the public, help individuals turn their backs on crime and reduce the cost of reoffending to society.

Domestic Abuse: Legal Aid Scheme

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much legal aid funding was provided under the domestic violence gateway in each of the last five years.

James Cartlidge: The domestic violence gateway was introduced in 2013. In January 2018, amendments were made to the legislation which removed the time limits on supporting evidence and widened the range of supporting evidence that can be accepted by the Legal Aid Agency, which has increased expenditure in subsequent years. The Government is determined to protect and support better the victims of abuse and their children and bring perpetrators to justice. This is why the Government passed the landmark Domestic Abuse Act 2021 last April, representing our commitment to transforming our response to this crime. For the first time, there will be a wide-ranging statutory definition of domestic abuse which incorporates a range of abusive behaviour beyond physical violence, including emotional, coercive or controlling behaviour, and economic abuse. Our aim is to ensure that domestic abuse is properly understood, considered unacceptable and actively challenged across statutory agencies and in public attitudes. The information requested is set out in the table below: Financial YearExpenditure, £2016-1711,766,9722017-1819,567,8172018-1924,768,9732019-2031,250,2692020-2138,185,819 The data is accurate as up to June 2021. Details regarding volumes of applications submitted and granted under the domestic violence gateway can be found in tables 6.8, 6.9 and 6.10 of the published legal aid statistics: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/legal-aid-statistics-quarterly-april-to-june-2021.

Courts: Closures

Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 21 February 2022, to Question 121764, on Courts: Closures, if he will provide a breakdown of how the referenced £211m has been spent.

James Cartlidge: Receipts from the sale of court and tribunal buildings since 2015 are used to form part of the overall budget for the £1.2 billion HMCTS Reform Programme. It is not possible to provide a breakdown for how sale receipts have been spent within the programme.The HMCTS Reform Programme has already delivered services which allow people to apply online for cases in Immigration and Asylum, Divorce, Probate, Civil Money Claims, benefit decision appeals, and local authority childcare applications. We are also currently rolling out the new Common Platform system in the criminal courts which will ensure the courts, CPS and police all have access to the same case information.

Courts: Closures

Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether any courts closed since 2010 have not yet been sold by his Department.

James Cartlidge: As at 9 March, there are nine former court buildings which have closed and are currently owned by HMCTS. Of these, three are currently in use as temporary Nightingale Courts and two have sales that are due to complete in April 2022. The remaining sites are in the process of being sold.The decision to close any court is not taken lightly. It only happens following full public consultation and only when effective access to justice can be maintained. Courts that have closed include those which were underused or too close to one another.

Property: Confiscation Orders

Sir Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when the payment recommended by Lady Justice Andrews in case 2019 04229 B3 with neutral citation [2021] EWCA Crim 956 and as requested in TO 23914037 will be made; and for how long that payment has been under consideration.

James Cartlidge: The correspondence in this case has been under consideration since 26 October 2021 and relates to a complex appeal. The Ministry of Justice is required to consider all the relevant information before making a decision about potential payments on an individual case and hopes to provide a response shortly.

Public Consultation: Visual Impairment

Peter Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that easy read materials are released for consultations in a timely manner.

James Cartlidge: For all consultations, the Ministry of Justice considers the needs of the audience group and takes action to improve reach and accessibility, following best practice through the provision of accessible formats for consultation documents. We strive to ensure that our publications are accessible for people with disabilities, including the timely provision of easy read versions where these are considered necessary.

Prisons: Computers

Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department holds figures on the number of occasions in each of the last five years that computers on the prison estate in England and Wales have been used to access web pages containing inappropriate materials such as pornography.

Victoria Atkins: Security controls on internet access mechanisms and other routes restrict the ability for devices across the prison estate to access such material. All IT and IT media that prisoners have access to is also checked regularly for illicit material, including pornography. Where problems are identified, they are quickly investigated and additional controls put in-place.This information is not centrally held and can only be accessed at disproportionate cost.

Rape: Victims

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to ensure that rape victims are not subjected to cross-examination on their rape case in court hearings on unrelated matters; and what recourse would be available to rape victims in such circumstances.

Victoria Atkins: The court experience can be a particularly distressing part of the process for victims, especially when they are giving evidence and undergoing cross-examination. There are already measures in place to limit what can be asked of victims, including Section 41 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 prohibits the defence from adducing any evidence (or asking any questions) relating to a complainant’s past sexual behaviour except for in very limited circumstances. In order for the defence to adduce any such evidence they must apply to the judge and pass stringent tests of the relevance of the evidence, and the need for it to be adduced. However, the Government is clear that only evidence pertinent to the case is used in court. In the End-to-End Rape Review Report on Findings and Actions published in summer 2021, the Government announced that the Law Commission would examine the law, guidance and practice relating to the use of evidence in prosecutions of serious sexual offences and consider the need for reform. This project launched in December and is considering issues including the way rape myths are tackled as part of the court process as well as reviewing the rules relating to the use of the complainant’s medical and counselling records during a trial. The project will also review the availability of alternative arrangements and special measures for giving evidence to protect complainants during the trial process.

Rape: Victims

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the number of rape victims who do not report crimes because of (a) poor handling and (b) breaches of anonymity in previous cases; and what steps he is taking to improve that situation for victims.

Victoria Atkins: The Office for National Statistics publishes statistics on prevalence of rape and reporting in the Crime Survey of England and Wales, accessible here: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/articles/natureofsexualassaultbyrapeorpenetrationenglandandwales/yearendingmarch2020.This publication includes statistics on the prevalence of rape experienced by victims since the age of 16, the proportion of these victims who reported to the police and the proportion of victims who told someone else about the abuse, either someone they knew personally, or someone from another professional, support or official organisation. The publication also includes reasons why some victims did not tell anyone, or why some victims did not tell the police. We do not collect data on non-reporting due to breaches of anonymity in previous cases. As part of the cross-Government Rape Review, a series of actions will be implemented that will improve the way the system handles rape cases, conscious that the Government does not have control over jury convictions. The joint national action plan (JNAP)will deliver actions designed to improve the handling of cases and interactions with victims.We are rolling out Operation Soteria: a joint police and Crown Prosecution Service programme of work to transform the way that they work individually and together to investigate and prosecute rape. This will turn the focus onto the perpetrator rather than the victim’s behaviour. We are additionally introducing a single source of 24/7 support for victims of rape and sexual violence, and have increased funding this year to £150.5m for victim support services. In July last year, the government launched our Violence against Women and Girls Strategy , with a dedicated policing lead reporting directly to the Home Secretary, and have recently consulted on a Victim’s Bill.

Rape: Victims

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the number of rape victims who have not had their (a) right to anonymity and (b) rights under the Code of Practice for Victims of Crime, including enhanced rights for intimidated witnesses, upheld; for what reason those rights have not been upheld; and what steps he is taking to ensure that those rights are upheld and reinstated after they have been breached.

Victoria Atkins: Victims of rape do not have to apply for anonymity as it is an automatic lifetime protection from the point of report. Therefore, there is no requirement for the court to uphold their anonymity, and breach of this right is a criminal offence.Victims of rape are eligible for enhanced support under the Victims’ Code. Such support includes being offered a referral to a specialist support service by the police, being contacted sooner after key decisions have been made and having access to special measures, such as being screened from the defendant or giving evidence during the trial from outside the courtroom. The Crown Prosecution Service will seek the victims’ views on special measures and make the application to the court, but ultimately it is at the court’s discretion. We have expanded the current pilot of Section 28, which provides the option to pre-record cross-examination in advance of a trial, for complainants of sexual and modern slavery offences from three to seven Crown Court centres and will extend for this cohort nationwide as soon as practicable.The Ministry of Justice does not collect data on the special measures directions made by the courts. However, the second phase of the Common Platform, a digital case management system that helps users, such as HMCTS staff and the CPS, manage and share criminal case information more effectively, will allow us to collate this data when it is fully rolled out.We recently consulted on a Victims’ Bill – which will build on the foundations provided by the Code to substantially improve victims’ experiences of the criminal justice system. We have already committed to placing the Code in statute to raise its profile and send a clear signal that the justice system must deliver for victims. The Bill will also make clearer and sharper lines of accountability if victims do not receive their rights from criminal justice agencies.This Government is also publishing the first ever adult rape scorecard, which will bring together performance data from across the system in one place, allowing us to increase public transparency and hold agencies to account for delivery.

Human Rights Act 1998

Peter Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, why easy read materials for his Department's consultation on Human Rights Act Reform were only released 12 days before the consultation was scheduled to end.

James Cartlidge: The publication of the easy-read version of our consultation on A Modern Bill of Rights was regrettably delayed due to issues with an external supplier. As a result of this, the Secretary of State has extended the deadline for responses by six weeks for those with needs for an easy-read or audio version of the consultation document. The new deadline for these responses is 19 April. Ministry of Justice officials will be conducting focused engagement sessions with disability organisations to explore the proposals outlined in the consultation further. The Department will also complete a full Equalities Impact Assessment of any proposals taken forward.

Ministry of Justice: Social Media

Geraint Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much his Department spent on social media advertising in (a) 2019, (b) 2020, (c) 2021 and (d) 2022 up to and including 28 February; and on which platforms that money was spent.

James Cartlidge: Publicly available transparency data that includes the spend information can be found on gov.uk: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cabinet-office-spend-data

Richard Davidoff

Sir Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, to review the conduct of Richard Davidoff in his role as a court appointed managing agent.

James Cartlidge: Under section 24 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1987, a tenant can apply to the Tribunal for the appointment of a manager. Tenants can also apply to the Tribunal for it to discharge or vary an order that has already been made. Tribunal decisions are only challengeable on appeal.The link below provides useful background information:https://www.lease-advice.org/advice-guide/what-does-appointing-a-manager-mean/The Tribunal does not have any powers to carry out an independent investigation or review performance of a court appointed managing agent.

Church Commissioners

Clergy

Mr Ben Bradshaw: To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, how many clergy of incumbent status have been dispossessed in each of the last five years, broken down by (a) diocese and (b) year by year; and how many schemes, including dispossession of office, are being prepared.

Andrew Selous: Under the Mission and Pastoral Measure 2011 clergy may be dispossessed of their office when changes are made to the administrative geography for worship, ministry, and mission, such as parish or benefice boundaries. The table below summarises the number of dispossessions for 2017-2021 by diocese, based on the date when they legally came into effect. There are currently 5 schemes where the process has been started, but where we do not yet know the outcome.YearDioceseclergy dispossession2017 02018Gloucester12019 02020Portsmouth6 2021St Albans 2

Clergy: Retirement

Rosie Duffield: To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of reforming the Ecclesiastical Offices (Terms of Service) Regulations 2009 to bring measures relating to the mandatory retirement age for clergy into line with provisions on age discrimination within the Equality Act 2010.

Andrew Selous: The current provisions are already compatible with the age provisions of the Equality Act 2010, which allows a retirement age of 65 or over where there is an objective justification. The Terms of Service Regulations were last amended in 2017 and no consideration has been given since then to amending them further.

Ministry of Defence

Ukraine: Military Aid

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assistance his Department is offering to Ukraine to tackle Russian aggression.

James Heappey: Defence is playing a central role in the UK's response to the Russian invasion. Alongside our Allies and partners, we have been supporting Ukraine to develop the capabilities of their Armed Forces through training, advice and the provision of equipment.As the Secretary of State announced to the House on 9 March regarding lethal aid, we have delivered 3,615 NLAWs (Next-Generation Light Anti Tank Weapons Systems) and continue to deliver more. We have provided protective military equipment, including some 3,000 sets of body amour, 2,000 helmets, 4,000 cold weather boots and more that 75,500 pieces of other equipment including ear defenders and sleeping mats.We have also released intelligence to expose Russian attemps to install a puppet regime in Kyiv and to fabricate a pretext for invasion. We will continue to expose the Russian playbook, including false flag operations, disinformation and cyber-attacks.

Ajax Vehicles: Procurement

Matt Vickers: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent progress he has made the AJAX armoured fighting vehicle programme.

Jeremy Quin: The Department continues to work with General Dynamics to identify solutions to the noise and vibration problems on Ajax vehicles.Trials and testing of modifications proposed by General Dynamics to resolve these issues are ongoing. The data from these trials will then need to be analysed to determine whether the proposed modifications are effective. I will update the House on these results in due course.

Tanks: Procurement

Matt Vickers: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of increasing the number of main battle tanks in the Army.

James Heappey: As announced by Secretary of State for Defence in 2021, Future Soldier is about facing up to future threats by creating an Army that is more integrated, active and lethal. The operational analysis from Northern Syria and Nagorno-Karabakh that informed the Integrated Review and Future Soldier has been broadly matched by the performance of armour in Ukraine. Nonetheless, we continue to watch the threat and will make policy accordingly.

Defence: Regional Planning and Development

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 15 February 2022 to Question 119567, on Defence: Regional Planning and Development, if he will provide a regional breakdown of the DASA Regional Partnerships Fund.

Jeremy Quin: The £3.1 million DASA Regional Partnerships Fund has been set up to cover the Levelling Up regions outside the Greater South East. Funding for projects in each region will depend upon regional investor engagement and formal assessment of DASA submissions. The competition process has started, but allocation of funding is not expected before spring 2022.

Ukraine: Military Aid

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress his Department has made on providing the Ukrainian army with (a) lethal and (b) non-lethal defensive military equipment.

James Heappey: The UK, working closely with Allies, continues to fulfil its commitment to provide more defensive equipment to Ukraine, both lethal and non-lethal, to help defend against continued Russian aggression.As the Secretary of State announced to the House on 9 March 2022 regarding lethal aid, we have delivered 3,615 NLAWs (Next-Generation Light Anti-Tank Weapons Systems) and continue to deliver more. We will shortly be delivering a small consignment of anti-tank Javelin missiles and have taken the decision to explore the donation of Starstreak, high-velocity, man-portable anti-air missiles.We have also provided protective military equipment, including some 3,000 sets of body armour, 2,000 helmets, 4,000 cold weather boots and more than 75,500 pieces of other equipment including ear defenders and sleeping mats.

Future Combat Air System: Finance

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to box 3.6 on page 172 of the Levelling Up in the United Kingdom White Paper which states that a further £1 billion has been invested in the Future Combat Air System Technology Initiative, what proportion of that funding will be spent on research and development; and how much of that funding is planned to be spent outside the Greater South East.

Jeremy Quin: The Future Combat Air System Technology Initiative (FCAS TI) is a research and development programme in partnership with industry and SMEs, set up to develop cutting-edge technologies and expertise to deliver the UK's future combat air capability. All of the further £1 billion outlined in the Levelling Up in the United Kingdom White Paper will be spent on research and development.FCAS TI funding goes through a broad supply chain including our 'Team Tempest' partners. They are always looking for new expertise to support this work, so we do not hold data on where they will spend this funding. However, given their locations we believe a significant majority of the work undertaken by our FCAS TI suppliers, is executed outside of the South East.

Navy: Travel

Chris Stephens: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what travel warrants a 23-year-old Royal Navy personnel, who has served 14 months, is entitled to.

Leo Docherty: On completion of Initial Training, only those Royal Navy (RN) personnel assigned to a Seagoing Qualifying Unit are entitled to travel warrants.RN personnel based at shore establishments may be able to claim one of two allowances, Get You Home Travel or Home to Duty Travel, as a contribution towards travel, if they meet the eligibility criteria laid down in Joint Services Publication 752.

Defence Serious Crime Unit

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, who is the new Provost Marshal Serious Crime; whether they are (a) civilian or b) military staff; and what is their grade or rank.

Leo Docherty: The role of Provost Marshal Serious Crime remains subject to final appointment by Her Majesty the Queen. The designate for the role is Colonel Mark John.

Armed Forces Day: Portsmouth

Stephen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to support Armed Forces Day 2022 celebrations in Portsmouth through increasing (a) public access to HMNB Portsmouth to encourage local historical and cultural knowledge and (b) armed services recruitment and retention.

Leo Docherty: Her Majesty's Naval Base Portsmouth is an operational, secure site which is operated for the Royal Navy (RN) and the wider Ministry of Defence, and there are few opportunities for it to be open to the public.The RN will be supporting the wider plans to mark Armed Forces Day in Portsmouth, working alongside colleagues within the Historic Dockyard and the National Museum of the Royal Navy to enable the public to engage and learn about the RN.Armed Forces Day is an opportunity to celebrate the entire Armed Forces community, encompassing serving personnel, reservists, veterans, cadets and, most importantly, their families, who support them in their endeavours.The RN will be running a recruitment campaign at the time of Armed Forces Day 2022, but not specifically focused around it.

Armed Forces Day: Portsmouth

Stephen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of allowing local visitors aboard a Royal Naval Warship in Portsmouth to mark Armed Forces Day 2022.

Leo Docherty: The Royal Navy continues to explore options to identify a suitable opportunity to open ships to the public within Her Majesty's Naval Base Portsmouth.We regret that this will not be possible over Armed Forces Day 2022 weekend due to operational commitments.

Armed Forces: HIV Infection

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 4 February 2022 to Question 114925, on Armed Forces: HIV Infection, on which date the Government plans to announce the implementation of the new policy allowing people living with HIV to join the armed forces.

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 4 February 2022 to Question 114925, on Armed Forces: HIV Infection, whether policy changes will be agreed by the end of March 2022 in respect of the implementation of his new policy of allowing people living with HIV to join the armed forces.

James Heappey: It remains the expectation that policy changes will be agreed by the end of March 2022, allowing those living with HIV to join the Armed Forces, if they are stable on treatment with no detectable viral load. A Government announcement will be made as soon as the new policy is implemented.

Armed Forces: HIV Infection

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of the use of HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) on career progression for serving members of the armed forces; and what his policy is on the use of PrEP by serving members.

James Heappey: The Armed Forces do not place any career restrictions on personnel who take PrEP, provided they otherwise meet the normal medical standards for continued Service within their specialisation, branch, or trade.

Finland: Foreign Relations

Ruth Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he last spoke to his Finnish counterpart.

Mr Ben Wallace: I last had a bilateral meeting with Antti Kaikkonen, Finnish Defence Minister on 12 January 2022 during a visit to Finland. We also met at the meeting of Joint Expeditionary Force Defence Ministers at Belvoir Castle on 21/22 February 2022.

Sweden: Foreign Relations

Ruth Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he last spoke to his Swedish counterpart.

Mr Ben Wallace: I last had a bilateral call with Peter Hultqvist, Swedish Defence Minister on 25 February 2022. I also met Minister Hultqvist at an event attended by a number of Joint Expeditionary Force Defence Ministers in Copenhagen on 4 March 2022.

HMS Montrose: Decommissioning

Dave Doogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the planned out of service date for HMS Montrose.

Jeremy Quin: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 28 January 2022, to Question 110589.HMS Montrose: Decommissioning (docx, 15.3KB)

Ministry of Defence: Staff

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how long does he expect MOD staff to be supporting the Home Office in processing Ukrainian visa applications.

James Heappey: Currently the duration of this deployment has not been finalised. It will be kept under review depending on the levels of support needed, including as a result of Government's new streamlined visa application process launching on 15 March.

Ministry of Defence: Staff

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the MOD staff offered to the Home Office to support the processing of visas for Ukrainians are (a) civilian or (b) military staff.

James Heappey: We anticipate that all personnel made available to support the Home Office's overseas Visa Application Centres for refugees from Ukraine will be military. Military personnel will provide humanitarian assistance and other support to refugees as needed, and subject to agreement by host nations, but it is not anticipated that they will be involved directly in processing visa applications.

Ministry of Defence: Staff

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many MOD staff have been offered to the Home Office to support the processing of Ukrainian visa applications.

James Heappey: Initially, up to 140 Armed Forces personnel have been offered to the Home Office to provide humanitarian support to refugees at overseas Visa Application Centres, subject to agreement by host nations. The precise numbers deployed are continuously kept under review as the situation on the ground changes, including due to the Government's new streamlined visa application process for Ukrainian refugees launching on 15 March.

Ukraine: Military Aid

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his oral contribution of 9 March 2022 on Ukraine Update, when the Government will decide on supplying the Ukrainian armed forces with Starstreak anti-aircraft missiles.

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the earliest date by which the UK could begin supplying (a) star streak, (b) high velocity and (c) man portable anti-aircraft missiles to the Ukrainian armed forces.

James Heappey: The UK Government has taken the decision to explore the donation of Starstreak high velocity, man-portable anti-air missiles to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. We believe that this system will remain within the definition of defensive weapons but will allow the Armed Forces of Ukraine to better defend its skies.We will update the House at the appropriate time but due to operational sensitivities, the Ministry of Defence cannot comment further at this stage.

Ukraine: Humanitarian Aid

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will take steps to help ensure that food and medical supplies are available in neighbouring countries to that of Ukraine.

James Heappey: Her Majesty's Government's humanitarian response to the war is being led by the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, who are working alongside aid agencies and non-governmental organisations. The Ministry of Defence is not providing food and medical supplies to neighbouring countries but has1,000 Service personnel on standby to deploy as required in response to a humanitarian crisis in Eastern Europe. The Department has also provided medical supplies to the Ukraine Armed Forces.

Afghanistan: Repatriation

Mr Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to help relocate vulnerable Afghans and British nationals from third countries to the UK.

James Heappey: The Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy scheme, for Afghan nationals with a qualifying connection to UK Defence, continues to facilitate the relocation of eligible Afghans to the UK. The Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme, operated by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, has committed to take around 5,000 refugees in the first year and 20,000 over the coming years.We continue to work alongside international partners to relocate British Nationals and eligible Afghans through third countries. We also provide as much information as we can through Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office Travel Advice. We have relocated over 8,000 Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy principals and their dependants since the scheme has been open.Further information on Her Majesty's Government's efforts to support the relocation of British nationals, and vulnerable Afghans without a connection to UK Defence, should be directed to Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office and the Home Office.

Type 31 Frigates: Iron and Steel

Dave Doogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much UK manufactured steel is being used in the production of Type 31 frigates expressed as a percentage of gross tonnage of each vessel.

Jeremy Quin: Steel for the Type 31 frigates has been sourced by Babcock, the prime contractor, from Kloeckner Metals, an Exeter based steel stockist. Thin plate with the required combination of thickness, size and flatness specifications required for Type 31 is not manufactured in the UK. This type of steel comprises the majority of the steel required to construct the Type 31 Class. Steel is procured in accordance with Cabinet Office guidelines and steel for our major defence programmes is generally sourced by our prime contractors from a range of UK and international suppliers. Many defence programmes require specialised steels that are not currently manufactured in the UK; nevertheless, we encourage the sourcing of UK steel wherever it is technically and commercially feasible.

Type 26 Frigates: Iron and Steel

Dave Doogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much UK manufactured steel is being used in the production of Type 26 frigates.

Jeremy Quin: For the Batch 1 Type 26 frigates, almost 50% by value of the steel is UK sourced. This is equivalent to about 35% by tonnage, or 1,400 tonnes per ship. Steel is procured in accordance with Cabinet Office guidelines and steel for our major defence programmes is generally sourced by our prime contractors from a range of UK and international suppliers. Many defence programmes require specialised steels that are not currently manufactured in the UK; nevertheless, we encourage the sourcing of UK steel wherever it is technically and commercially feasible.

Department for Work and Pensions

Employment and Support Allowance

Mike Amesbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to offer greater support to claimants of employment and support allowance in response to the rise in the cost of living.

Chloe Smith: The Government understands that people are concerned about pressure on household budgets and is taking action to help. Alongside the £9.1 billion Energy Bills Rebate announced on 3 February, it is providing £12 billion of support over this financial year and next to ease cost of living pressures, with help targeted at working families, low-income households and the most vulnerable. The Government is making sure we continue to deliver the financial support that people need. Our spending on disability support is the second highest in the G7 – with a record £59 billion forecast to be spent this year (2021/2022), or 2.5% of GDP. This will increase by £3.5 billion to over £62 billion in 2022/23. This year, the total amount that the Government spends on Employment and Support Allowance will increase by 3.1% from April 2022, in line with the Consumer Prices Index. This approach is fair to both benefit recipients and taxpayers. Claimants receiving legacy benefits who believe they may be better off on Universal Credit should first refer to the independent benefits calculators on GOV.UK. They can also get help through the government funded Help to Claim scheme as well as Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland. In addition, Personal Independence Payment is available to help with the extra costs faced by people with a long-term health condition or disability.

Pension Credit

Wendy Chamberlain: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to learn lessons from the Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018: benefit take-up strategy following the publication of Estimates of Take-up for Pension Credit in 2019-20.

Guy Opperman: The latest estimates of Pension Credit take-up for 2019/20, published on 24 February, show an encouraging improvement across all headline measures. Compared to 2018/19; take-up of Guarantee Credit increased from 70% to 73% and take-up of Pension Credit overall increased from 63% to 66%. In 2019/20, 77% of the total amount of Pension Credit that could have been claimed was claimed. The Department is aware of the work conducted by the Scottish Government to encourage take-up of their benefits.

Pension Credit

Wendy Chamberlain: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps are being taken to identify those entitled to pension credit who have not taken it up in each region of the UK.

Guy Opperman: Pension Credit take-up statistics cannot be broken down to regional level. The Department has undertaken a range of actions to raise awareness of Pension Credit, encourage pensioners to check their eligibility, and to make a claim. This has included a Pension Credit media day of action in June last year as well as setting up a Pension Credit working group, which is made up of a diverse range of organisations and tasked with identifying new practical initiatives that we can work on together to help increase Pension Credit take up. We continue to use opportunities to promote Pension Credit using proactive press activity and social media to reach potential recipients, their families and friends. Our initial internal management information suggests new claims for Pension Credit in the past twelve months to December 2021 were around 136,000, representing an increase of around 30% compared to the 12 months to December 2019 when they were around 105,000. It also suggests that we have been receiving consistently high volumes of claims over recent months, at around 3,300 per week. This management information has not been subjected to the usual standard of quality assurance associated with official statistics but are provided here in the interests of transparency. The impact of these claim volumes on numbers of successful awards and on Pension Credit take-up will take longer to establish given the usual cycle involved in producing those statistics.

Social Security Benefits: Scotland

Wendy Chamberlain: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018 benefit take-up strategy.

Guy Opperman: No such assessment has been made.

Social Security Benefits

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of the internal process reviews her Department has completed since 2010-11 were identified through (a) her Department's complaints process, (b) referrals from the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, (c) referrals from the Independent Case Examiner, (d) coverage in the media, (e) referrals by frontline staff in her Department, (f) contact from coroners and (g) referrals from external agencies or professionals.

Chloe Smith: In 2020 improvements were made to the IPR referrals criteria. We began recording the referrals origins at this time and do not have records of referral origins prior to this period. Please see the attached table that shows a breakdown as requested since 2020. IPRs completed since 2020 identified through the following categories  ProportionDepartment's complaint process3745%Parliamentary & Health Service Ombudsman00%Independent Case Examiner11%Flagged by Press Office56%Frontline Staff1214%Coroner's Office67%External Agencies or Professionals911%   Total not fitting the above categories, referred by non-frontline DWP staff1316%

Universal Credit

Mr Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will provide details of the (a) three trigger point targets in the universal credit system and (b) the proportion of the working day that universal credit service centre employees are expected to spend on each trigger point.

David Rutley: Our case managers, work coaches and decision makers work together to support claimants. Our Universal Credit Case Management approach has been designed to enable case managers to prioritise their workload by using their dashboard and triggers, which contain categories of cases requiring action selecting the most urgent cases to work on first, therefore they are not performance targets. The categories are those requiring payment; action to prevent a payment from being blocked; responses to claimant contact; and further action to manage a claim. The aim is to clear any pending actions once a case is taken up, therefore there is no expectation on how long a case manager should spend on each section of their dashboard.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Food Aid

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will provide support to the agricultural sector for food production to replace food supplies in other countries from hostile states.

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to take steps to help increase the productivity of farming to replace supplies lost as a result of the war in Ukraine.

Victoria Prentis: The Government continues to support farmers to improve productivity in a sustainable manner and have developed a range of measures which will enable investment, support innovation and increase capability and skills. The UK has a highly resilient food supply chain which has coped well in responding to unprecedented challenges. Our food import dependency on the Eastern European region is very low, so Defra does not expect any significant direct impact of this conflict on UK food supply. Our initial assessment is the principal impact on UK farmers will be an increase in the cost of a range of inputs including red diesel, animal feed, fertiliser, and energy. We are working with the industry to identify where mitigations are available and continue to keep the situation under review.

Water: Sewage

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to take steps to ensure that no raw sewage is discharged into (a) the Thames, (b) English rivers and (c) the sea in 2022.

Rebecca Pow: This Government has made improving water quality a priority, and has been clear that the current use of storm overflows is completely unacceptable. However, storm overflows are a historic infrastructure issue and stopping their usage today would lead to sewage backing up into homes and businesses during the next heavy rainfall event.This Government is the first to take steps to tackle sewage overflows, but we know that this is extremely challenging and costly, as it will require significant infrastructure upgrades including separating pipes across the country. We will therefore shortly be publishing a Storm Overflow Discharge Reduction Plan for consultation, to gather views from the public on our proposed approach and the trade-offs between ambition and pace of change, and disruption and costs to consumers.The Government has a duty to produce this plan under the landmark Environment Act 2021 which introduces a raft of duties to reduce the adverse effects of storm overflows on the environment and public health, including a report setting out the actions that would be needed to completely eliminate discharges from storm overflows in England. We will outline further detail on this shortly.

Property: Bolton South East

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 7 March 2022 to Question 132232, on Property: Bolton South East, what the challenges are that have arisen in the delivery of the project.

Rebecca Pow: Over the last 18 months several design challenges have arisen including space for construction, ground conditions and level of bedrock. Last week the Environment Agency (EA) wrote to the community to explain these challenges and to be clear that there may be an impact on programme and delivery of a flood risk scheme within the discussed timescales. The EA is committed to working towards finding both a technical solution and to maintain an open and honest relationship with the community. The EA is working with partners to strive to ensure that any funding gap is removed so that a construction contract can be awarded. The EA has a close working relationship with the local Flood Action Group and has held meetings to provide updates and take questions. The EA, in co-operation with partners United Utilities and Bolton Council, has completed interim measures such as installation of non-return valves on the surface water system and filling-in of low spots.

Animal Products: Imports

Ruth Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent progress he has made on bringing forward legislative proposals to introduce a ban on the import of hunting trophies into the UK.

Rebecca Pow: We have pledged to bring forward legislation to ban imports of hunting trophies from thousands of species. This ban will be among the strongest in the world, leading the way in protecting endangered animals. We intend to bring this forward as soon as parliamentary time allows.

Ivory: Conservation

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department has taken to help protect ivory-bearing species including (a) hippos, (b) rhinos and (c) elephants.

Rebecca Pow: The Ivory Act 2018 will introduce one of the toughest bans on elephant ivory sales in the world by banning the dealing in items made of or containing elephant ivory, regardless of their age, unless they fall within one of the narrow and carefully defined exemptions. On 3 February the Government reached a significant milestone in implementing the Ivory Act with the laying of the statutory instrument that sets out the provisions for the operation of exemptions under the Act. On 24 February we launched the digital ivory service through which people can register and certify exempted ivory items ahead of dealing in these items. We plan for the ban to come into force in spring 2022. We published a consultation on extending the Ivory Act to other ivory-bearing species, including hippopotamus, on 17 July 2021. This consultation closed on 11 September 2021. A summary of responses will be published in due course. Rhino horns do not contain ivory. However, the UK Government is at the forefront of international efforts to protect endangered animals and plants from poaching and illegal trade. We are investing over £46 million between 2014 and 2022 to counter illegal trade by reducing demand, strengthening enforcement, ensuring effective legal frameworks, and developing sustainable livelihoods. For example, we have committed funding through the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund on multiple projects that prioritise rhino conservation, including for example, an initiative tackling poaching and the growing demand for rhino parts through behavioural change campaigns in Laos. The UK has also provided funding to INTERPOL to expand its work on enforcement including, tracking, and intercepting illegal shipments of ivory, rhino horn and other illegal wildlife products to effectively tackle transnational criminal networks responsible.

Endangered Species: Conservation

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has identified any endangered animals in the London Borough of Havering; and what steps his Department is taking to protect endangered species in (a) that borough and (b) other urban areas.

Rebecca Pow: The Government has not carried out an assessment of biodiversity specific to the London Borough of Havering. Natural England (NE) is working with partners and private landowners across Greater London to promote nature recovery. This includes, for example, work with the London Borough of Havering and RSPB, to ensure there is positive management of biodiversity across the Borough including the six main Nature Reserves: Cranham Brickfields; Cranham Marsh; Ingrebourne Valley; Rainham Marsh Nature Reserve; The Chase; and The Manor nature reserve. NE also continues to work with partners across Havering to recover biodiversity through five agri-environment schemes which will support the protection and management of woodland, fen, wetlands, ditch networks and grassland in the Borough, as well as the management of the three Sites of Special Scientific Interest. This Government is committed to halting the decline in species abundance by 2030, through a world-leading legally binding target under the Environment Act. We will shortly be publishing a Green Paper to look at how we can drive the delivery of that target, including through our sites and species protections. Other actions under the Environment Act are likely to support species recovery, such as biodiversity net gain for development including Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects and the development of Local Nature Recovery Strategies, which will help to identify and drive local actions to protect and recover species.

Floods: Insurance

Drew Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 27 of January to Question 108554 on Floods: Insurance, with reference to his Department's commissioned insurance industry data, what proportion of the samples of policies for determining the number of policies impacted by flood exclusions were from (a) Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey constituency and (b) other rural communities.

Rebecca Pow: The Association of British Insurers and British Insurance Brokers’ Association commissioned data from their members. The data samples provided by industry are not broken down; therefore, we do not hold details on the proportion of exclusions by constituency or in rural communities.

Property Flood Resilience Scheme

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on increasing the Property Flood Resilience grant to take account additional costs of (a) surveys and (b) planning permission.

Rebecca Pow: The Property Flood Resilience (PFR) Repair Grant Scheme is part of the Government Flood Recovery Framework and, if activated, reimburses local authorities for awarding grants of up to £5000 towards the cost of repairs to make homes flood resilient. For successful applications, up to £500 is available (as part of the £5,000 PFR 2020 grant) to fund the cost of an independent pre-installation survey (to develop the project plan) and post completion inspection of the completed work, by a suitably qualified independent surveyor. Defra last launched the PFR Repair Grant scheme following the flooding in November 2019 and February 2020. Requests for additional support for planning applications in both these schemes have been minimal as most PFR measures do not require planning permission. Defra is currently carrying out an evaluation of the PFR Repair Grant scheme. The outcomes of this evaluation will inform any PFR repair grant schemes that may be run in the future.

Clean Air Zones

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Prime Minister's Answer to the Oral Question asked by the hon. Member for Bury North on 2 March 2022, Official Report, col 1033, whether he agrees that Clean Air Zones can damage business and do not do very much to protect clean air.

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department is committed to delivering clean air zones as set out in the Government’s Air quality plan for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in UK (2017).

Jo Churchill: The Prime Minister referred specifically to the case of Greater Manchester, where the Government has stepped in to delay implementation of the proposed Clean Air Zone given concerns about the impacts on residents and businesses in the wider Greater Manchester area. Air pollution is a public health risk, particularly to the most vulnerable and this Government is committed to reducing non-compliant levels of air pollution as soon as possible. As such, the Government remains committed to delivering the actions set out in the 2017 NO2 plan. The plan recognised that whilst Clean Air Zones (CAZ) can be effective at reducing NO2 emissions, different types of charging schemes as part of a Clean Air Zone can have a significant impact on businesses and residents. Consequently, local authorities are required to consider whether there are alternatives available that would deliver legal levels of NO2 as or more quickly. The Government granted permission to Greater Manchester Authorities to delay the implementation of their Clean Air Zone following evidence provided on the impact of COVID-19 on supply chains and the price and availability of second-hand vehicles. Greater Manchester will provide a revised plan by July that better meets the needs of local businesses and residents and sets out how it will deliver legal levels of NO2 as soon as possible. Some local authorities have determined that CAZs are necessary to deliver legal levels of NO2. Government has provided £880 million for both the implementation of measures and support under our Clean Air Fund which is given to Local Authorities to offer direct support to individuals and businesses to upgrade their vehicles and fleets. This includes awarding £170 million to Greater Manchester authorities to deliver cleaner air. This is on top of significant levels of investment from the Department of Transport in wider measures to support public transport, active travel and low emission vehicles.

Food: Labelling

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress he has made towards the introduction of sustainable food labelling in the UK.

Victoria Prentis: The Government is currently undertaking significant work in this area to improve the evidence base and address current evidence gaps which will help to inform our policy priorities. For example, specific impacts of environmental labelling on consumers' purchasing behaviour are less well known, so Defra has commissioned consumer insights work to strengthen this evidence area. This will aid better understanding towards the efficacy of eco-labelling on consumer buying preferences and assist in identifying whether environmental labelling leads to more sustainable supply chains, in alignment with reducing the UK's emissions targets. We want to empower consumers with more effective information to help them make healthier, greener, and more sustainable choices in their diet and are reviewing how food information can be improved - such as through improved labelling - so consumers can make more informed decisions while maintaining freedom of choice. Elsewhere, we are working with the Environment Agency on its SEEBEYOND project which is looking at the standardisation of metrics in the food and drink sector.

Food: Fertilisers

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to support food producers with the affordability of fertilisers.

Matt Vickers: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to (a) support British farmers to access ammonium nitrate fertiliser and (b) ensure a steady supply of that fertiliser at a reasonable price following the Russian invasion of Ukraine and in the context of the export by Russia of that fertiliser.

Victoria Prentis: Due to the increase in cost of natural gas across the globe, a key feedstock for the production of nitrogen-based fertiliser products including ammonium nitrate, the cost of production of these fertiliser types has increased significantly. It has also affected Europe and the global market with some fertiliser companies halting or reducing production due to high input costs, leading to some countries such as China reducing the export of some fertiliser products to protect their domestic demands.The UK sources fertiliser from a wide range of countries and also produces fertiliser domestically, such as ammonium nitrate. Russia and Belarus account for only c. 10% of our direct fertiliser imports by value.The situation and impacts on farmers in particular, and industry more widely, of current high fertiliser prices, are being monitored closely. We will continue to engage with industry and farmers to understand any potential pressures and options to mitigate any risks. We understand from industry intelligence that the vast majority of fertiliser needs for this planting season have been met.There are nutrient management techniques and technologies that can be used alongside fertiliser products that help the efficacy of fertilisers and help maintain high yield and good quality produce. Support in the form of guidance from fertiliser suppliers and agricultural organisations such as National Farmers Union (NFU) can be found from various public sources. Defra is aware that the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board have published many helpful public pieces of guidance, advice and webinar recordings on mitigating high fertiliser prices.Defra is in regular contact with key industry figures including the NFU, fertiliser producers and importers, and the key sector representative body for fertilisers, the Agricultural Industries Confederation. We are continuing to monitor the security and stability of fertiliser and other supply chains, and working closely with colleagues across Government and devolved administrations as well as industry figures to share knowledge and discuss all options available to tackle these issues. This will help inform how Defra and other industry bodies can best support farmers.Defra is committed to promoting the use of less environmentally damaging fertilisers and better nutrient use efficiency. The current shortage of inorganic fertilisers provides an opportunity for farmers to continue exploring increasing their use of environmentally sustainable products and more efficient nutrient management methods.

Seasonal Agricultural Workers' Scheme

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on the seasonal worker scheme.

Victoria Prentis: Defra is aware that in recent years a significant proportion of our seasonal labour has been undertaken by Ukrainian and Russian nationals. In recent months, Defra has engaged extensively with the licensed operators of the seasonal worker visa route to prepare and advance thorough contingency plans in response to the escalating situation in Ukraine. Operators can recruit from any country they choose for the seasonal workers visa route and in 2021 recruitment spanned across almost 50 different countries. Defra will continue to closely monitor the supply of labour to UK horticulture throughout the year, working with operators and sector growers to ensure there is sufficient labour to bring home the harvest in 2022.

Agriculture: Coronavirus

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department will provide additional support to farmers to help mitigate the effects of the covid-19 pandemic on that industry.

Victoria Prentis: We are aware of the challenges that the farming industry has faced because of the Covid-19 pandemic, and Defra has been working closely with the affected sectors. To support businesses impacted by Covid-19, the Government made available financial support under a number of schemes during 2020. In April 2021, it additionally launched the Recovery Loan Scheme. This is intended to help give UK businesses ongoing access to finance as they recover from the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.Where Covid has disrupted workforces, in the run up to Christmas Defra announced that visas would be made available up to 31 December 2021 for both poultry workers and HGV drivers transporting food. For the pig sector, we additionally launched a visa scheme allowing up to 800 pork butchers to work in the UK for six months from November 2021.Where a sector has been more adversely affected we have taken further action. We have implemented Private Storage Aid and Slaughter Incentive Payment schemes to facilitate an increase in the throughput of pigs through abattoirs.On 10 February I chaired a roundtable with representatives of the pig industry from across the UK. At the Roundtable I announced that we will be launching a UK-wide review of supply chain fairness in the pig sector. We will be engaging with industry on this with a consultation expected later this year. We want to elicit industry views on improvements to fairness and transparency that could be made to ensure a profitable and productive future. I have also met with representatives of the agricultural banking sector to discuss the current situation in the pig sector. The banks confirmed that they are working closely with impacted pig farmers during this exceptionally challenging period and remain keen to be supportive. We continue to meet with the industry and to monitor the situation closely.

Zoonoses: Research

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make it his policy to increase research opportunities for the identification and management of zoonotic diseases.

Jo Churchill: Science-based evidence is at the heart of our policy making in Defra. Zoonotic infections threaten both human and animal health and we have systems in place to detect and manage outbreaks, for both endemic (those that are already found in the UK) and exotic infections. We collaborate closely with the public health agencies, as outlined in our contingency plan on how we would work with other Government agencies and departments to control zoonotic diseases as well as those only affecting livestock. This is being put to use at the moment, through our response to avian influenza outbreaks. These plans rely heavily on the most up-to-date evidence base, whether considering new diagnostic technology, delivery of control measures, surveillance, tracing or prevention with vaccination.To this end, we have allocated £200 million to the Animal and Plant Health Agency science campus at Weybridge. This substantial investment recognises the essential role of this Government capability, as the first stage of a long-term programme of work to safeguard and enhance facilities. This will enable its world-leading scientists to continue at the forefront of research and policy to protect people, the environment and the economy, by boosting our resilience and strengthening our understanding of health risks to, and from, animals and plants.In addition, in the latest Spending Review, Defra received an uplift to their capital DEL for evidence R&D to support science programme spend for three years. This includes programmes for endemic and exotic diseases, for new emerging diseases and for zoonotic disease programmes.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the badger control policy at (a) culling badgers infected with Bovine TB, (b) not culling badgers that have been vaccinated against Bovine TB and (c) not culling badgers which are not infected with Bovine TB.

Jo Churchill: A proactive, controlled cull of badgers has the potential to reduce bovine TB in cattle by reducing the number of infected badgers. There is a recognised reservoir of infection in badgers across the High Risk and Edge Area. The badger cull operations remove at least 70% of the badger population regardless of infection status due to the endemicity of these areas. Where badger vaccination is taking place in the Edge Area, vaccination licence holders can apply for a no-cull zone around qualifying areas of badger vaccination. No-cull zones provide an opportunity to manage the delivery of vaccination and culling on adjoining land in the Edge Area. This aims to strike a balance between reducing the risk of culling vaccinated badgers and ensuring that culling can proceed to ensure that progress is made towards disease eradication. Badger control operations are assessed annually by the Chief Veterinary Officer and Natural England’s Chief Scientific Advisor. Their advice is that industry-led licensed badger culling continues to deliver the level of effectiveness required by the policy to be confident of achieving disease control benefits. This has been further substantiated by an independent study by Downs et al 2019 which demonstrated that the cull has resulted in significant reductions in the spread of the disease to cattle, showing reductions of 66% and 37% in the first two licensed cull areas.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of testing measures carried out to reduce the spreading of Bovine TB through movements of infected cattle.

Jo Churchill: Routine and targeted TB testing of cattle herds, movement restrictions and more frequent testing of infected herds, and rapid removal of positive-testing cattle, remain the foundations of the Government’s TB eradication strategy. This is supported by statutory pre- and post-movement testing of cattle moved between herds and slaughterhouse surveillance of all cattle commercially slaughtered for human consumption. To reinforce those measures, in January 2022 we increased the frequency of mandatory surveillance testing throughout England’s High-Risk Area from annual to every six-months, with some exceptions for lower risk herds. The single intradermal comparative cervical tuberculin (SICCT) test, commonly known as the skin test, is used in routine and targeted TB testing, together with pre- and post-movement testing. It has a very high specificity, giving on average only one false positive result for every 5,000 or 6,000 uninfected cattle tested, although it is only moderately sensitive (with about one in five to one in four TB-infected cattle potentially missed by the test). The skin test is a good herd screening test in that we only need to find one test reactor animal in order to declare a TB breakdown and place that herd under movement restrictions.

Furs: Imports

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of banning imports of fur in 2022 on animal welfare.

Jo Churchill: Fur farming has been banned in the UK for over 20 years. Now we have left the EU, the Government is able to explore potential further action in relation to animal fur. The recent call for evidence published by Defra on the fur trade in Great Britain was a key step in helping us to meet the commitment set out in the Action Plan for Animal Welfare to better understand the fur sector in Great Britain and gather evidence from those with an interest in it. We received around 30,000 responses from businesses, representative bodies and individuals, demonstrating the strong public interest in this area. We are reviewing the evidence gathered both from our Call for Evidence and wider engagement with the fur trade and stakeholders, and a summary of responses setting out the results and key findings will be published soon.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many badgers have been culled in each year since 2013.

Jo Churchill: The number of badgers culled to control the spread of bovine TB is published annually on gov.uk at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/bovine-tb-controlling-the-risk-of-bovine-tb-from-badgers#monitoring-and-evaluation. Data for 2021 is currently being compiled and will be published in due course. Number of badgers culled20131,869201461520151,467201610,886201719,537201832,934201935,034202038,642

Cats: Imports

Bell Ribeiro-Addy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing a ban on the import of (a) kittens under six months of age, (b) cats which are more than 42 days pregnant and (c) cats which have been declawed.

Jo Churchill: The Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill was introduced in Parliament on 8 June and is progressing through Parliament. The Bill includes powers to introduce new restrictions on pet travel and on the commercial import of pets on welfare grounds, via secondary legislation. In August 2021, the Government launched an 8-week consultation on our proposed restrictions to the commercial and non-commercial movement of pets into Great Britain. The consultation proposed to maintain the existing requirements for cats. This is because there is currently limited evidence that there is a significant illegal trade in cats or significant numbers of low welfare movements. The number of non-compliant cats seized at the border is much lower than for dogs, for example, in 2020 we seized and detained 17 kittens (under 15 weeks) compared to 543 puppies. In 2020 no pregnant cats were seized and detained. The consultation sought views on whether maintaining the existing requirements in relation to cats was the right approach. We are currently analysing the responses to the consultation and will publish a summary in due course. This will allow us to take on board the views of the public and interested groups in order to shape our future policy. We will continue to work closely with stakeholders prior to the introduction of the legislation, to ensure that our final measures are well considered and led by the latest evidence.

Glass: Recycling

Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the potential cost to businesses of the increase in the glass re-melt targets; and if he will make a statement.

Jo Churchill: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 27 January 2022, PQ UIN 113064.

Plastics: Recycling

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans his Department has to help ensure that all households across the UK have access to soft plastics recycling.

Jo Churchill: In the 2021 consultation on Consistency in Household and Business recycling in England, we proposed that local authorities be required to collect recyclable plastic films from households by no later than the end of 2026/27. The Government response to the consultation will be published in due course.

Bovine Tuberculosis

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the herd incidence rate of Bovine TB has been for each year since 2013.

Jo Churchill: Official bovine TB statistics for Great Britain, including herd incidence rates, are published on gov.uk and can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/bovine-tb.  Annual TB herd incidence rates in England201310.020148.620159.8201610.2201711.020189.320199.420209.420218.8  Herd incidence is defined as the number of new herd incidents (TB-positive herds or TB breakdowns) per 100 herd-years at risk over the time period (in the table above, this is a year). A herd is considered "at risk" for the length of time since its last negative herd test or since the end of its last TB incident. Thus, this measure gives the average number of new incidents for every 100 unrestricted herds undergoing TB surveillance over the time period.

Food: Production

Stuart Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to encourage self-sufficiency in food production.

Victoria Prentis: The UK has a highly resilient food supply chain, as demonstrated throughout the COVID-19 response. Our high degree of food security is built on supply from diverse sources; strong domestic production as well as imports through stable trade routes. We produce 60% of all the food we need, and 74% of food which we can grow or rear in the UK for all or part of the year, and these figures have changed little over the last 20 years.Strong domestic food production supports our food security. The UK enjoys considerable self-sufficiency in food, with nearly 100 percent sufficiency in poultry, carrots and swedes. 88% of cereals consumed in the UK in 2020 were produced domestically.In addition, UK consumers have access through international trade to food products that cannot be produced here, or at least not on a year-round basis. This supplements domestic production, and also ensures that any disruption from risks such as adverse weather or disease does not affect the UK's overall security of supply.Recognising the importance of food production, the Government has set out a legal obligation on the Government to produce an assessment of our food security at least once every three years. The first UK Food Security Report was published in December 2021. It recognised the contribution made by British farmers to our resilience, and the importance of strong domestic production to our food security. This report will serve as an evidence base for future policy work.

Pigmeat: Imports

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to reduce the volume of low-value pig carcass imports from the European Union.

Victoria Prentis: There is currently no evidence that retailers or processors are importing more pork from Europe. At the present time, volumes of imports are at their lowest levels since 2017 and in 2021 were around 9% lower than those in 2020.The UK is reliant on imports of around 40% to meet consumer demand for pork. UK consumer preference is also for cuts from the leg and loin and domestic production is currently insufficient to satisfy this demand.On 10 February, I chaired a roundtable with pig industry representatives and retailers from across the UK to discuss the challenges that the sector has been facing in recent months. As part of those discussions, retailers have been encouraged to work closely with processors to access more of our great British food, providing a reliable and sustainable food supply to the British public and help to reduce the current backlog of pigs on farms. I have also been speaking directly with both retailers and the hospitality sector.We are also launching a UK-wide review of supply chain fairness in the pig sector. We will be engaging with industry on this with a consultation expected later this year. We want to elicit industry views on improvements to fairness and transparency that could be made to ensure a profitable and productive future for our pig industry.

Home Office

Detention Centres: Independent Monitoring Boards

Kate Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reason it is a requirement for volunteers to sign the Official Secrets Act when volunteering to be on an independent monitoring board for an immigration removal centre.

Tom Pursglove: The Detention Centre Rules 2001 regulate how immigration removal centres are operated, with the overall purpose of the rules being to ensure a secure and humane environment. The safety, security and welfare of staff and detained individuals are of vital importance in the operation of the immigration removal estate and this includes the strict regulation of those entering and working in immigration removal centres, under Rule 53 of the Detention Centre Rules.Members of Independent Monitoring Boards, who are appointed by the Home Secretary under section 152 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, are required to sign the Official Secrets Act as part of the Home Office clearance process.

Julian Assange

Kenny MacAskill: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she or her officials have had discussions with their counterparts in the US Administration on reported attempts to assassinate Julian Assange.

Damian Hinds: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Fire Prevention: Ukraine

Kim Leadbeater: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to provide urgent fire fighting equipment to Ukraine.

Kit Malthouse: We are helping to ensure that crucial fire and rescue equipment and PPE donated by Fire and Rescue Services will get to where it can directly provide support to firefighters, emergency services and volunteers on the front line in Ukraine.The Home Secretary speaks regularly to her counterpart at Ukraine’s Interior Ministry and the Ukrainian Ambassador in London to understand what practical help we can offer.

Application Registration Card

Dawn Butler: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent estimate she has made of the (a) waiting times for an Application registration card (ARC) for unaccompanied minors to be issued and (b) average number of days taken to process ARC cards for unaccompanied minors in each of the last 12 months.

Kevin Foster: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Visas: Army

Dawn Butler: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans she has to reduce or remove the visa charge for foreign soldiers who have fought for the UK and wish to move to the UK; and if she will make a statement.

Kevin Foster: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Visas: Ukraine

Owen Thompson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she will limit practical barriers to Ukrainian refugees applying for a visa overseas by waiving the requirement to provide biometric data at a visa application centre.

Kevin Foster: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Refugees: Afghanistan

Sarah Olney: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will publish the international partners and NGOs that her Department plans to work with to welcome wider groups of Afghans via the third pathway of the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme.

Kevin Foster: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Refugees: Afghanistan

Sarah Olney: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to publish further details on the referral criteria for the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme's third pathway beyond year one.

Kevin Foster: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Immigration: EU Countries

Amy Callaghan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she had made of the impact of surging decision makers and staff from other Government departments to tackle the influx of applications from Ukraine on processing times for EU Settlement Scheme travel permits from other EU countries.

Kevin Foster: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Visas: Ukraine

Owen Thompson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what her timetable is for the Calais Visa Application Centre for Ukrainian refugees to be open and fully operational.

Kevin Foster: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Fire and Rescue Services: Floods

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits for the ability of the fire service to tackle flooding of introducing a statutory duty for firefighters in England to respond to flooding.

Kit Malthouse: A statutory duty for firefighters to respond to flooding is unlikely to make a significant difference to the Fire and Rescue Services which already provide effective response to flooding incidents. This has been consistent demonstrated through the excellent response of Fire and Rescue Services to a range of incidents including the flooding associated with recent Storms Eunice and Franklin.Fire and Rescue Authorities already have the power to respond to all kinds of emergencies for which they do not have a specific statutory duty, including flooding, under the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004.Furthermore, the Government provides the Fire and Rescue Service with additional resource to tackle flooding via the provision of High-Volume Pumps and Water Rescue Assets. Note: Water Rescue Assets are Defra Funded.

Fire and Rescue Services: Finance

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on providing funding to fire and rescue services to specifically respond to the effects of storms and flooding.

Kit Malthouse: Fire and Rescue Authorities have the necessary funding to respond to incidents, including flooding. The Government has developed the New Dimensions Programme to provide Fire and Rescue Services with specialised equipment and training to respond to national scale emergencies, beyond the capacity of local resources.Such capabilities include urban search and rescue, large-scale firefighting, and flood response. The size of these capabilities are determined by the requirements to respond to the top risks in the Cabinet Office National Risk Assessment.The Home Office continues to support Fire and Rescue Authorities to retain these capabilities with funding via a New Dimensions grant, amounting to approximately £18 million in 2021/22.

Police: Norfolk

James Wild: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers there (a) were in Norfolk in each year since 2018 and (b) are projected to be in (i) 2022, (ii) 2023, (iii) 2024 and (i) 2025.

Kit Malthouse: The Home Office collects and publishes data on the size of the police workforce in England and Wales, broken down by Police Force Area (PFA), on a biannual basis in the ‘Police workforce, England and Wales’ statistical bulletin.Information on the number of police officers broken down by PFA, back to 2007, can be found in the accompanying Open Data Tables here:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1005761/open-data-table-police-workforce-280721.odsWhile the ‘Police workforce, England and Wales’ statistical bulletin remains the key measure of the size of the police workforce, as part of the Police Officer Uplift Programme, the Home Office also publishes a quarterly update on the number of officers (headcount terms only) in England and Wales, also broken down by PFA. Data are available here: Police Officer uplift statistics - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)The latest data from the ‘Police officer uplift’ statistics show that as at 31 December 2021 there were 1,857 officers in Norfolk Police (Table U1). Norfolk Police has recruited 180 additional officers out of an allocated total of 134 additional officers for years one and two of the uplift combined (Table U2). Norfolk Police has been allocated 90 additional officers for year 3 (Table B1).On 2 February 2022, the Government published a total police funding settlement of up to £16.9 billion in 2022/23, an increase of up to £1.1 billion when compared to 2021/22. Of this, forces will receive an extra £550 million in government grants, which includes funding to deliver the final 8,000 additional officers as part of the Police Uplift Programme, enabling forces to recruit and maintain the full 20,000 officer uplift.We are committed not only to recruiting 20,000 additional officers by March 2023, but also to retaining these officers and ensuring it is a career where all recruits can thrive.

Hamas: Counter-terrorism

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the extent to which the Government has used counterterrorism powers in respect of Hamas since 31 January 2020.

Damian Hinds: The Government does not routinely comment on intelligence matters.The Hamas listing was extended to cover the organisation in its entirety in November 2021. This makes being a member of or expressing support for Hamas a criminal offence, which carries up to a 14-year prison sentence and/or an unlimited fine.Hamas is also subject to an asset freeze under the Counter-Terrorism (International Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations, 2019.The investigation and prosecution of proscription offences is a matter for the police and Crown Prosecution Service. It would be inappropriate for the Government to comment further on such matters.

Hezbollah: Counter-terrorism

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the extent to which the Government has used counterterrorism powers in respect of Hezbollah since 31 January 2020.

Damian Hinds: The Government does not routinely comment on intelligence matters.Hizballah has been proscribed in its entirety in the UK since 2019, making it a criminal offence to be a member or supporter of the organisation with a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison and/or an unlimited fine. The Government also extended the UK’s financial sanctions designation to cover Hizballah in its entirety in January 2020.The investigation and prosecution of proscription offences is a matter for the police and Crown Prosecution Service. It would be inappropriate for the Government to comment further on such matters.

Asylum: Ukraine

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether Ukrainians who wish to seek asylum in the UK are required to claim asylum in the first safe country they reach.

Kevin Foster: The safest route for people to leave Ukraine is via its neighbouring countries to the West. From the safety of these countries, those escaping the war can benefit from the additional support we have already announced.Ukrainians can apply to reunite with UK-based family via the Ukrainian Family Scheme. For Ukrainians who do not have family ties with the UK, we have announced the Ukrainian Sponsorship Humanitarian Visa Offer. This programme will match Ukrainians with individuals, businesses, community organisations and Local Authorities who are willing and able to act as a sponsor.These two routes ensure those fleeing war in the Ukraine have a safe and legal route to the UK.

Slavery

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many companies with an annual turnover of £36 million or more failed to produce a (a) modern slavery statement and (b) modern slavery statement that met minimum requirements under Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, in each of the last five years.

Rachel Maclean: Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 established the UK as the first country in the world to require businesses to report annually on steps taken to prevent modern slavery in their operations and supply chains. To comply with the requirement, statements must be:Published annually via a prominent link on the organisation’s homepage;Approved by the Board of Directors or equivalent;Signed by a Director or equivalent.In 2019, the Home Office contracted the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre (BHRRC) to undertake an audit of compliance with Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015. The audit was concluded in January 2020 with data accurate up to this point. The high-level findings of this audit were published on 17 September 2020 in the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner’s annual report (available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/independent-anti-slavery-commissioners-annual-report-2019-to-2020).In March 2021, the Government launched the modern slavery statement registry to radically enhance transparency by bringing together modern slavery statements on a single platform. Since launch, over 7,000 modern slavery statements covering over 23,500 organisations have been submitted to the registry on a voluntary basis.Businesses’ response so far is demonstrating the registry’s positive impact by providing greater visibility of the steps organisations are taking to prevent modern slavery in their global supply chains and empowering investors, consumers and civil society to scrutinise the action organisations are taking to prevent modern slavery.To improve the quality of reporting and compliance further, the Government has committed to introduce a package of measures to strengthen section 54. This includes the introduction of financial penalties for non-compliance and a requirement for organisations to publish their statements on the Government’s modern slavery statement registry which will enable Government to monitor and drive compliance with the legislation. These commitments require changes to primary legislation and will be introduced when parliamentary time allows.

Immigration: Afghanistan

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 4 February 2022 to Question 115898, on Visas: Afghanistan, what proportion of people who arrived from Afghanistan in 2021 have been given indefinite leave to remain; and whether she plans to extend limited leave to enter in the event that the process of confirmation of Indefinite Leave to Remain status concludes before all those who are eligible have been granted that status.

Kevin Foster: The Home Office is in the process of supporting people evacuated from Afghanistan to apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR).The data on those granted ILR is not currently available, but once published we will direct individuals to the publication. Once applications have been lodged, as they have in the vast majority of cases, individuals are issued with a letter confirming they have extant leave to remain in the UK pending their grant of Indefinite Leave to Remain.Those already relocated to the UK under the Afghanistan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) will be able to apply free of charge to convert their temporary leave into indefinite leave to remain.Those resettled through the Afghan Citizen Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) will receive fee-free indefinite leave to enter or remain in the UK.  They will be able to apply for British citizenship after five years in the UK under existing rules and subject to the appropriate fee.In light of the success of our evacuation efforts, we plan to exceed our initial aim to resettle 5,000 through ACRS in the first year.

Skilled Workers: Vacancies

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to add butchers to the shortage occupation list.

Kevin Foster: Thanks to our expansion of the Skilled Worker route, occupations including butcher, butcher’s assistant, butchery manager, master butcher and slaughterman can now be sponsored to work in the UK. A job does not have to be on the Shortage Occupation List (SOL) to qualify for the Skilled Worker visa. Being on the SOL also does not exempt a job from other requirements including English Language and skill thresholds, although it does allow an employer to pay a salary lower than the General Threshold for the route. The Government intends to commission the independent Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to undertake another review of the SOL this year and we will consider any recommendations following such a report. The meat sector, along with other economic sectors, are encouraged to provide their evidence to the MAC when their call for evidence opens. We will continue to monitor the labour needs of other sectors, however we want to see employers make long-term investments in the UK domestic workforce, including offering competitive salary packages, instead of relying on labour from abroad. Beyond the Points Based System, there is the resident labour market which includes UK workers and non-UK citizens with general work rights.

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

Royal National Institute of Blind People

Alison Thewliss: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, when he next plans to meet with representatives of the RNIB, and on how many recent occasions he has done so in each of the last three years.

Kemi Badenoch: Details of ministerial meetings with external organisations are published on Gov.uk.

Russia: Foreign Nationals

Kate Osamor: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of the proposal by the Mayor of London to seize properties owned by Russian oligarchs.

Eddie Hughes: The Government is already taking action against the billions of pounds worth of UK property accumulated by the Russian state-linked individuals and companies. We have frozen the assets of those individuals on the sanctions list and are taking further steps on land ownership transparency through the Economic Crime Bill. We will set out details in due course. If the Mayor of London wants to make further suggestions via his office, he is welcome to get in touch with my officials.

Refugees: Afghanistan

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, how many officials in his Department are working on the resettlement of Afghan refugees.

Eddie Hughes: We are working across the Department and indeed across Government to get the Homes for Ukraine sponsorship scheme ready whilst continuing to deliver existing commitments such as Afghan resettlement. We are reprioritising work to provide the resource needed to deliver these priorities.

Capital Letters: Finance

Neil Coyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to the £2 billion funding to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping announced in the Autumn 2021 Spending Review, what steps he is taking to ensure that grant funding for Capital Letters, a not-for-profit organisation that procures accommodation for homeless households on behalf of London boroughs, will be extended beyond March 2022.

Neil Coyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will take steps to ensure that Capital Letters, a not-for-profit organisation that procures accommodation for homeless households on behalf of London boroughs, will continue to receive Government funding to enable it to continue playing a key role in the Government’s homelessness reduction strategy.

Eddie Hughes: Capital Letters was set up in 2018 with the support of £37.8 million of Government funding. As announced at the Spending Review the Government will be spending over £2 billion to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping over the next 3 years. Allocations of funding for individual programmes will be announced in due course.

Refugees: Ukraine

Yvette Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to Secretary of State for the Home Department's oral statement on 1 March 2022, Official report, column 916, whether the humanitarian sponsorship pathway will operate in a similar way to the community sponsorship scheme.

Yvette Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to the Secretary of State of the Home Department's oral statement on 1 March 2022, Official report, column 916, how many people his Department expects will come to the UK through the humanitarian sponsorship pathway over the next three months; and when his Department expects the first people using that pathway to arrive.

Eddie Hughes: I refer the Hon Member to the Secretary of State's oral statement to Parliament of 14 March 2022.

Refugees: Ukraine

Owen Thompson: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, when the sponsored humanitarian visa route for Ukrainian refugees will be fully operational.

Owen Thompson: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, when his Department plans to publish further details of proposals for a humanitarian business sponsorship route for Ukrainian refugees.

Dame Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, when his Department will begin accepting applications from refugees to the Ukrainian Humanitarian Route scheme.

Dame Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to the oral contribution of 7 March 2022, Official Report, column 17, when his Department plans to publish further details on the humanitarian sponsorship scheme; and what information will be included as part of that publication.

Eddie Hughes: I refer the Hon Member to the Secretary of State's oral statement to Parliament of 14 March 2022.

Freeports: Northern Ireland

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, when he will announce the outcome of his decision on the location of freeports in Northern Ireland.

Neil O'Brien: Freeports will level up and regenerate communities across the UK by attracting new businesses, spreading jobs, investment and opportunity to towns and cities up and down the country.The UK Government remains committed to extending the Freeports programme to Northern Ireland as soon as possible

Empty Property: Shops

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what recent assessment he has made of trends in the level of vacant units on high streets in England.

Neil O'Brien: The information to answer this question is not held centrally.

Aerials: Planning Permission

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he has had discussions with local authorities on the matter of mobile network operators applying for pre-application advice for telecommunications masts but failing to pay the fee for that advice and subsequently stating in their consultation material that they applied for pre-application advice but the Council did not respond.

Stuart Andrew: Local planning authorities may charge for providing discretionary services including pre-application advice under section 93 of the Local Government Act 2003. Authorities need to consider whether charging is appropriate in all cases, given the potential for pre-application engagement to save time and improve outcomes later in the process. Where possible, local planning authorities are strongly encouraged to provide at least a basic level of service without charge. Local planning authorities are best placed to deal with issues regarding the service they provide and any approach they may take where fees for discretionary services are not paid.The specific issue of unpaid fees has not been raised through correspondence or responses to our technical consultation on amending permitted development rights for electronic communications infrastructure. However pre-application consultation has been considered in our joint work with local authorities, mobile network operators and other stakeholders to develop a new Code of Practice for Wireless Network Development in England. This Code, published in March 2022, encourages mobile network operators to engage with local planning authorities when deploying mobile infrastructure, including at the pre-application stage of the planning process.

Regeneration: Bristol

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether the Government (a) is taking steps and (b) plans to take steps to support proposals to regenerate Bristol’s Temple Quarter.

Stuart Andrew: This Government is committed to level up all parts of the United Kingdom to address social justice challenges and strengthen economic prosperity. We will continue to work with partners across the West of England to explore opportunities to realise these missions.

Members: Correspondence

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, when he plans to reply to the correspondence from the Right hon. Member for East Ham of 15 September 2021 on the application to the Building Safety Fund by Blinky Ltd on behalf of 5 Eastern Quay Apartments.

Stuart Andrew: The Department received a letter dated 11 January concerning the Eastern Quay Apartments and a response has been sent.

Building Safety Bill: Partnerships

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether limited partnerships are included within the definition of associated persons in the draft Building Safety Bill; and if he will make a statement.

Stuart Andrew: We acknowledge that this issue was raised in Lords Committee and Government is considering the matter.

Housing Revenue Accounts

Daisy Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what discussions he has had with (a) the Local Government Association and (b) council leaders on the potential impact of building safety remediation costs proposed under the Building Safety Bill to local authority Housing Revenue Accounts and their ability to construct new social housing dwellings.

Stuart Andrew: The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities continues to have regular conversations with local authorities and their respective bodies. We are working across government to ensure we know the implications of the Building Safety Bill on their Housing Revenue Accounts and on their work to build and improve social housing.

Housing: Older People

Dr Lisa Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, (a) when the task force on older people’s housing announced in the Levelling Up White Paper will be formally established and (2) what role health and social care will play in that task force.

Stuart Andrew: The new taskforce on older people’s housing, as announced in the Levelling Up White Paper, will look at ways we can provide greater choice, quality and security of housing for older people. This work will be taken forward in partnership with the Department of Health and Social Care, building on the commitments set out in their recent white paper on adult social care reform.Further details regarding the remit of the taskforce, as well as the timing and frequency of meetings will be confirmed in due course.

Members: Correspondence

John Penrose: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, when he plans to respond to the letters from the hon. Member for Weston-super-Mare dated 4 January and 1 February 2022 relating to online Parish Council meetings.

Kemi Badenoch: A response to the Hon Member will be issued shortly.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Business: Russia

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what progress the Government has made on identifying the UK business interests of those in President Putin's inner circle.

James Cleverly: We, with our allies and partners, impose the most punishing sanctions to inflict maximum and lasting pain on Putin and his regime. Since Russia's invasion, the UK has sanctioned more than 500 of Russia's most significant and high-value individuals, entities and subsidiaries. This includes travel bans and asset freezes applied to 18 of Russia's leading oligarchs, with a combined worth in excess of £30 billion. As part of the UK's leading efforts to isolate Putin and those around him, these oligarchs will have their assets in the UK frozen, are banned from travelling here and no UK citizen or company may do business with them.

Afghanistan: Humanitarian Aid

Sarah Olney: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that the understandable diversion of resources and attention towards managing the ongoing crisis in Ukraine does not detract from the UK’s efforts to support the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.

James Cleverly: Our commitment to Afghanistan is enduring and work on priority areas, including responding to the humanitarian crisis remains one of our highest priorities. Of the £286 million committed in this financial year, £265 million has now been disbursed to partners to deliver lifesaving services to more than 6 million people, and all funds will have been transferred by 31 March 2022. We have been at the forefront of efforts to repurpose existing funds to support the Afghan people. In January, we successfully worked with the Asian Development Bank to make $405 million available. On 1 March the World Bank Board agreed to make over $1 billion in the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund available for health, education, livelihoods and food security. The UK has agreed to co-host the Afghanistan Pledging Conference with the UN, to take place at the end of March, to help raise $4.4 billion for 2022. This is the largest humanitarian appeal on record, reflecting the magnitude of the humanitarian challenge ahead.

Ukraine: Refugees

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much by value and what proportion of the humanitarian aid for Ukrainian refugees is being deployed to the Moldova-Ukraine border.

James Cleverly: The UK has now committed £395 million in aid to the current crisis. This includes £220 million of humanitarian assistance which will be used to save lives, protect vulnerable people inside Ukraine and in neighbouring countries. It will also be used to support refugees fleeing Ukraine through the provision of logistics, advice and analysis of needs on the ground. UK humanitarian experts have deployed to neighbouring countries, including Moldova, who are receiving and supporting the increasing flow of refugees fleeing Ukraine.

Ukraine: Radioactive Materials

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure the maintenance of radiation safety across Ukraine; and what steps she is taking in response to Russian forces shelling the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in that country.

James Cleverly: The shelling of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station is the first time that a state's military forces have fired at the site of a fuelled and functioning nuclear reactor. The UK convened an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council on 4 March to condemn the Russian attack on the plant and call on Russia to act in line with its international obligations. The UK continues to support the diplomatic efforts of the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) Director-General (DG) Grossi to restore nuclear safety and security in Ukraine. Grossi visited Turkey on 10 March to meet Lavrov and Kuleba.

Iran: Trials

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many trials of British citizens in Iran’s Revolutionary Courts have been attended by British officials since 2016; and what assessment she has made of how that figure compares with attendees from other European states.

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many times someone from the British Embassy in Tehran has physically visited Evin Prison since September 201; and whether those people have been able to meet with detained British citizens on such visits.

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the British Embassy in Tehran has made an assessment of the potential merits of making monthly visits to Evin Prison to (a) meet with the Judiciary and (b) check on the welfare and legal status of detained UK citizens.

James Cleverly: Since the reopening of the UK Embassy in Tehran in 2015, despite multiple requests, officials have not been granted access by the Iranian Authorities to visit detained dual British nationals or to attend their trials. Iran does not recognise dual nationality nor grant consular access to our dual national detainees. We have repeatedly pressed, and will continue to press, for consular access and appropriate medical care. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office provides a range of assistance to British nationals detained in Iran and their families. We regularly lobby the Iranians on health concerns and mistreatment allegations - and for the immediate and permanent release of all unfairly detained dual British nationals in Iran.

Eastern Europe: BBC Monitoring

Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she plans to take steps with the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport to increase the resources available to the BBC Monitoring Service in respect of (a) Russia, (b) Ukraine and (c) other European countries connected to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

James Cleverly: As set out in the BBC Monitoring Agreement, the BBC is responsible for the funding, staffing and administration of BBC Monitoring. The Government, as a Key Customer of the service, is liaising closely with BBC Monitoring on prioritisation and surge resourcing requirements.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what her policy is on whether Iran's treatment of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe constitutes torture.

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what specific steps her Department has taken since her appointment to follow up with the Iranian authorities on the allegations of torture raised in the case of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe.

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the Government's obligations under the Convention Against Torture in respect of the treatment of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe by the Iranian authorities.

James Cleverly: We remain committed to securing the immediate and permanent release of unfairly detained British nationals in Iran, including Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe. The Foreign Secretary continues to raise Iran's practice of detaining British dual nationals with her Iranian counterpart, Foreign Minister Amir-Abdolahian and, and I [Minister Cleverly] most recently raised with Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Baqeri Kani on 11 November. Our Ambassador in Tehran continues to raise these cases with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, most recently on 8 March.

Ukraine: Children

Chris Law: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent steps her Department has taken to help ensure the provision of (a) water, (b) food, (c) healthcare and (d) other essential products to Ukrainian children who have been displaced.

James Cleverly: The UK has now committed £395 million in aid to the current crisis. This includes £220 million of humanitarian assistance which will be used to save lives, protect vulnerable people inside Ukraine and in neighbouring countries. This funding will help aid agencies respond to the deteriorating humanitarian situation by providing access to basic necessities and medical supplies UK Government humanitarian experts have also deployed to the region to support those fleeing the violence in Ukraine.The UK has matched pound for pound the public's first £25 million for the DEC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal, which has now surpassed £100 million. Donating will help DEC charities provide food, water, shelter and healthcare to refugees and displaced families.

National Cyber Security Centre: Staff

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many UK personnel have worked at the National Cyber Security Centre in each year since 2015.

James Cleverly: We do not provide exact figures on the number of personnel working at NCSC for reasons of national security.

Ukraine: Refugees

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking with her European counterparts to provide humanitarian assistance to the Ukrainian refugee populations in European countries.

James Cleverly: The UK has committed £395 million in aid to the Ukraine crisis. This includes £220 million of humanitarian assistance which will be used to save lives, protect vulnerable people inside Ukraine and in neighbouring countries. UK humanitarian experts have deployed to Poland, Moldova and Romania to provide logistics advice and analysis of the evolving refugee situation and needs. The UK is committed to working with partners, including the EU, as well as humanitarian agencies to ensure a well-coordinated and well-funded response to the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and the region.

Ukraine: Refugees

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many staff from her Department were assisting refugees in Calais in the week commencing 28 February 2022.

James Cleverly: Staff from the British Embassy in Paris have been supporting Home Office and Border Force officials on the ground, including at the Calais advice centre and through engagement with the French authorities.

Food Aid

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she plans to take steps to support the provision of food supplies to developing countries that received food from Ukraine.

James Cleverly: The UK has now committed £395 million in aid to the current crisis. This includes £220 million of humanitarian assistance which will be used to save lives, protect vulnerable people inside Ukraine and in neighbouring countries. This funding will help aid agencies respond to the deteriorating humanitarian situation by providing access to basic necessities and medical supplies. UK Government humanitarian experts have also deployed to the region to support those fleeing the violence in Ukraine.The UK has matched pound for pound the public's first £25 million for the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal, which has now surpassed £100 million. Donating will help DEC charities provide food, water, shelter and healthcare to refugees and displaced families.

Ukraine: Children

Chris Law: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the levels of need for humanitarian support for displaced children in (a) Ukraine and (b) Ukraine's neighbouring countries.

James Cleverly: The UK has now committed £395 million in aid to the current crisis. This includes £220 million of humanitarian assistance which will be used to save lives, protect vulnerable people inside Ukraine and in neighbouring countries. It will also be used to support refugees, including children, fleeing Ukraine through the provision of logistics, advice and analysis of needs on the ground.As of 8 March, 2 million people are known to have fled Ukraine to neighbouring countries, according to UNHCR [link: https://data2.unhcr.org/en/situations/ukraine].

Ukraine: Refugees

Neil Parish: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to provide support to NATO countries bordering Ukraine on humanitarian assistance for refugees of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

James Cleverly: The UK has now committed £395 million in aid to the current crisis. This includes £220 million of humanitarian assistance which will be used to save lives, protect vulnerable people inside Ukraine and in neighbouring countries. It will also be used to support refugees fleeing Ukraine through the provision of logistics, advice and analysis of needs on the ground.We have deployed UK humanitarian experts to support Ukraine's neighbours, including Poland and Romania, who are receiving and supporting the increasing flow of refugees fleeing Ukraine.

Africa: Ukraine

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent estimate she has made of the number of citizens of African states resident in Ukraine before 24 February 2022 who (a) remain in that country, (b) have left Ukraine and are taking refuge in nearby states, and (c) have left Ukraine and travelled to a state in which they have citizenship.

James Cleverly: The UK Government has not made an assessment of the number of citizens of African states resident in Ukraine. As of 8 March, 2 million people are known to have fled Ukraine to neighbouring countries, according to UNHCR [link: https://data2.unhcr.org/en/situations/ukraine].

Russia: Sanctions

Alicia Kearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to help ensure that sanctions on Russia do not prevent ongoing humanitarian work in (a) Ukraine and (b) Russia.

James Cleverly: We are clear that any sanctions must not impede humanitarian delivery. To guard against the unintentional humanitarian impact of sanctions, the UK's sanctions on Russia provide for a range of humanitarian licensing grounds to facilitate humanitarian activity. New sanctions policies will consider possible humanitarian impact and we continue to consider all options available to mitigate this, including general licences and humanitarian exceptions where appropriate. We have called on Russia to enable humanitarian access and safe passage for civilians to flee the violence and we have worked tirelessly with partners to ensure the demand for Russia to comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law is clear.

Russia: Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has had discussions with her Russian counterpart on that country's obligations under the UN Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons in the context of the conflict in Ukraine.

James Cleverly: The UK condemns the indiscriminate or disproportionate use of any weapon, and the deliberate targeting of civilians and civilian objects in contravention of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, other relevant instruments and international humanitarian law. Lord Ahmad and the UK's Disarmament Ambassador denounced Russian violations of international law and the UN Charter during speeches to the Conference of Disarmament in March. The UK also led efforts to expedite an ICC investigation into Russian war crimes in Ukraine. We will be forthright in holding Russia to account for the use of indiscriminate force against innocent civilians in its illegal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.

Yandex

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of potential links between the Russian entity, Yandex, and the Russian state in the context of potential further sanctions.

James Cleverly: Our package of sanctions are the strongest economic measures the UK has ever enacted. They will inflict devastating consequences on Putin's regime. We are coordinating with our allies to ensure as strong a package as possible to create maximum impact - nothing is off the table. We are working with our international partners to identify further areas where concerted action will have a maximum impact on Putin and all those close to him responsible for its appalling attack on Ukraine.

Afghanistan: International Assistance

Mary Kelly Foy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what plans she has to co-host a pledging summit to tackle the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.

James Cleverly: The UK has agreed to co-host the Afghanistan Pledging Conference with the UN and Germany to help raise $4.4 billion for 2022. This is the largest humanitarian appeal on record, reflecting the magnitude of the humanitarian challenge ahead. The Conference, to be held virtually at Ministerial level, will focus on raising resources to scale up essential support to address the unprecedented level of humanitarian needs in Afghanistan. It will also highlight the capacity and commitment of humanitarian partners to implement lifesaving assistance across the country and raise awareness of other challenges critical to the people of Afghanistan. We will ensure that Afghan voices and their perspectives are reflected, especially women and girls, by inviting Afghan civil society to participate and attend the Conference.The UK remains committed to the people of Afghanistan and it is vital that countries support the pledging event at this Conference.

Ukraine: Fire and Rescue Services

Kim Leadbeater: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether (a) her Department will provide funding to UK fire fighting manufacturers to produce and send fire fighting equipment to Ukraine and (b) she has had recent discussions with Fire Aid on that matter.

James Cleverly: The UK has now committed £395 million in aid to the current crisis. This includes £220 million of humanitarian assistance which will be used to save lives, protect vulnerable people inside Ukraine and in neighbouring countries. This funding will help aid agencies respond to the deteriorating humanitarian situation by providing access to basic necessities and medical supplies. UK Government humanitarian experts have also deployed to the region to support those fleeing the violence in Ukraine.The UK has matched pound for pound the public's first £25 million for the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal, which has now surpassed £100 million. Donating will help DEC charities provide food, water, shelter and healthcare to refugees and displaced families.

Brazil: Human Rights

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what plans she has to (a) increase monitoring of human rights in Brazil and (b) include Brazil in her Department's annual report on human rights and democracy for 2022.

Vicky Ford: The UK regularly engages with the Brazilian government, civil society organisations and other partners to monitor human rights developments and respect for the rule of law in Brazil. We consider human rights issues in the development and implementation of projects supported by our Embassy in Brazil.The FCDO's human rights work goes much wider than the priority countries highlighted in the Department's Annual Human Rights Report. There is no plan to include Brazil as a priority country in the FCDO Annual Human Rights Report for 2022.

Russia: Sudan

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of reports of increasing (a) air force and (b) naval cooperation between Russia and the coup authorities in Sudan.

Vicky Ford: We are aware of longstanding engagement between Russia and Sudan, including the agreement in principle for a Russian naval base in Port Sudan. I have regularly voiced UK concern at Russia's influence across Africa, which capitalises on instability for their own interests. This message has been relayed at the highest levels in Sudan.

Brazil: Election Observers

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what the Government's position is on sending election observers to Brazil for the 2022 Presidential Election.

Vicky Ford: The UK is committed to building a Network of Liberty that will put us at the heart of economic, diplomatic and security partnerships. Promoting democratic values is a key objective of this, and election observation allows us to support democracies and strengthen democratic electoral processes around the globe.We are considering our approach for the Brazilian Presidential elections, and will continue to support ongoing work by existing international election observation organisations. We are clear that independent election monitoring provides vital support for credible and inclusive elections.

Brazil: Elections

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has had discussions with her Brazilian counterpart on a peaceful transfer of power in the event that one is necessary following the 2022 Presidential Election in that country.

Vicky Ford: The UK values its wide-ranging relationship with Brazil, among the elements of which are our bilateral partnerships on climate, trade, security and development.The UK is clear about our position on the importance of respect for electoral processes, peaceful transfers of power and accountable democratic institutions. We continue to engage with the Brazilian government, political parties and civil society organisations on this basis. In the lead up to Brazil's October 2022 presidential elections, it will be important for all participants to respect core democratic principles and avoid inflammatory rhetoric.

Ethiopia: Homicide

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the impact on security in Ethiopia of the recent killing of workers near the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam site.

Vicky Ford: We are aware of various conflicting reports of an attack on the road to Guba in the Benishangul-Gumuz Region. There has been significant unrest in this region for some time and the FCDO already advise against all travel to Pawe, Guba, Dangur, Dibati, Bulen woredas in the Metekel zone of Benishangul-Gumuz, and against all but essential travel to the rest of Metekel zone.

Nigeria: Evictions

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what support she is offering to the Government of Nigeria in relation to (a) the human rights implications of mass forced evictions and (b) effective practices of engagement with people living in areas targeted for redevelopment.

Vicky Ford: UN figures indicate over 2.5 million Nigerians have been forcibly displaced from their homes due to conflict. The UK remains committed to working with Nigeria to respond to the causes and consequences of conflict. We have provided £425 million of humanitarian support in North East Nigeria since 2017, which has supported up to 1.5 million people. I held lengthy and detailed discussions with regional governors, and community and religious leaders, about the deteriorating security situation in Nigeria, including in the North East, during my recent visit to Nigeria.We are concerned by recent closures of camps for displaced persons in Borno State which have relocated over 100,000 people. These people continue to be in need of humanitarian assistance and in some cases are moving to more insecure and ill-equipped locations. We have expressed our concern to Nigerian authorities at Federal and State levels, encouraging safe management of displacement that upholds global good practice. We are working closely with our partners on the ground and other diplomatic missions to monitor the situation and to promote sustainable approaches which ensures any movement is voluntary, safe, informed and dignified.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Abduction

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what support she is providing to the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo to (a) enable judicial and security services to use mobile telecoms data to track kidnappers and enforce laws against kidnapping for ransom and (b) create effective regulatory relationships with mobile telecoms providers to help prevent their services from being used to facilitate kidnapping for ransom.

Vicky Ford: The UK does not provide any specific support to the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo with regard to mobile telecoms. Our current bilateral assistance to DRC is £56.3 million, comprising £30.4 million for humanitarian activities, £17.4 million for health and education; £4.8 million for economic development; and £3.7 million for governance and stabilisation. The UK also supports the work carried out by the UN Peacekeeping Mission MONUSCO, who through supporting stability across the country also help reduce the scope for criminal acts such a kidnapping. In 2021/22, the UK will contribute approximately £45 million and three military staff officers to MONUSCO.

Evariste Djaï-Loramadji

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what support she is offering to the Government of Chad on helping to ensure (a) a full investigation into and (b) accountability for the killing of journalist Evariste Djaï-Loramadji and other civilians on 9 February 2022.

Vicky Ford: The UK Government is aware of the death of journalist Evariste Djaï-Loramadji which took place during intercommunal violence in the village of Sandana on 9 February 2022. The UK encourages the Chadian Government to carry out a full investigation into the deaths of Evariste Djaï-Loramadji and civilians, and ensure that those responsible are held to account.

Madagascar: Storms

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 1 March to Question 129089, (a) what proportions of the (i) 500,000 children under 5 estimated by UNICEF to be at risk of acute malnutrition and the (ii) 110,000 children under 5 estimated by UNICEF to be at risk of severe malnutrition will be aided by the funding already allocated by her Department, and (b) what support her Department is offering to projects to enable protection of (A) farmland, (B) replanting of crops, and (C) reforestation in southern Madagascar.

Vicky Ford: The UK is supporting an international multisector response to severe and prolonged drought in the south of Madagascar. Through the World Food Programme (WFP) our food assistance support is targeted at whole families with varying numbers of children per household. In total we are reaching 100,000 people in 20,000 households. Through UNICEF our support to health and nutrition is focused on building the knowledge and capacity of parents and care-givers to prevent malnutrition and is reaching 150,000 mothers and primary care givers.We are also a major contributor to other multilateral partners and UN agencies such as the World Bank; the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO); and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) who are working with the Government of Madagascar and local communities on important aspects of early recovery and resilience such as protecting farmland, replanting crops, and reforestation in the drought-affected south. Later this year we will launch DEFRA's £10 million Bio-Diverse Landscapes Fund to strengthen the sustainable management of nine forest protected areas throughout Madagascar, including in the south, over the next seven years.

Scotland Office

Places for Growth Programme: Scotland

Stuart Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the progress of the Places for Growth programme.

Mr Alister Jack: The Scotland Office has frequent conversations with our Cabinet colleagues, and I am pleased with the progress made so far relating to the Places for Growth agenda with 1,524 Civil Service roles committed for relocation to Scotland, including senior and policy roles and an increased Ministerial presence in our Scotland hubs.

Fisheries: Scotland

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on support for sustainable fishing and fisheries science in Scotland.

Mr Alister Jack: My office engages regularly with other Government Departments at official and Ministerial level.Through the Scottish Seafood Industry Action Group, Ministers discuss a wide range of issues that are of interest to the fishing industry, with the Industry itself.Sustainable fishing underpins our approach to managing our fish stocks, the advice we get from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) has guided our decisions on Total Allowable Catch during the recent fisheries negotiations.

Cabinet Office

National Lottery Community Fund: Public Appointments

Angela Rayner: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what records his Department holds on contact between (a) the No. 10 appointment unit and (b) Conservative Party officials on the appointment of the Chair of the National Lottery Community Fund.

Michael Ellis: There was no such correspondence.

National Economic Recovery Taskforce (Logistics)

Angela Rayner: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which Minister chairs the National Economic Recovery Taskforce (Logistics); and when the most recent meeting of that taskforce on logistics took place.

Michael Ellis: The National Economic Recovery Taskforce (Logistics) Cabinet Committee was announced on 14 September 2021. When the Prime Minister’s Cabinet Committee structures were refreshed, gov.uk was updated in October 2021 and this no longer included the National Economic Recovery Taskforce (Logistics). Logistics and supply chains remain a priority for the Government and are discussed regularly by Ministers in a range of forums. It is a long-established precedent that information about the discussions that have taken place in Cabinet and its Committees, and how often they have met, is not normally shared publicly.

National Lottery Community Fund: Public Appointments

Angela Rayner: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 24 February 2022 to Question 126900, what records are held of correspondence between the No 10 appointments unit and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in relation to the appointment of the Chair of the National Lottery Fund.

Michael Ellis: The No 10 appointments team routinely discusses upcoming and current public appointments with relevant departments.

Heating: Health

Marco Longhi: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department is co-ordinating discussions with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, and Department for Health and Social Care on a definition of health and wellbeing as it applies to the Government’s Heat and Buildings Strategy.

Jim Shannon: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department is co-ordinating discussions with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, and Department for Health and Social Care on a definition of health and wellbeing as it applies to the Government’s Heat and Buildings Strategy.

Michael Ellis: I refer my hon Friend to the reply given by my Rt Hon Friend the Minister of State for Energy, Clean Growth and Climate Change (Greg Hands) to Question UIN 128456.

Ministers: Members' Interests

Dr Rupa Huq: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he has taken to ensure that the Minister for Brexit Opportunities has no conflict of interest in taking up his role.

Michael Ellis: The Ministerial Code sets out the process by which, following appointment, Ministers should declare their interests, and take advice from their Permanent Secretary and the Independent Adviser on Ministers' Interests about any action that may be needed to avoid a conflict or the perception of a conflict.

Treasury

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

Feryal Clark: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of trends of the level of former employees being denied furlough payments for which they are eligible by employers.

Lucy Frazer: Information is not available on the trends of former employees who did not receive furlough payments. HMRC publishes statistics on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS); the latest release was published on 16 December 2021: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/coronavirus-job-retention-scheme-statistics-16-december-2021. CJRS was available to all employers with a Pay As You Earn (PAYE) system and to all employees on PAYE, regardless of their employment contract. The key eligibility criteria was that employees had to be on payroll the day before the scheme was announced, so 19 March 2020 for the first and second iterations of CJRS, 30 October 2020 for the third iteration of CJRS, and 2 March 2021 for the fourth iteration of CJRS. Employers also had to have previously notified HMRC, via a PAYE Real Time Information (RTI) submission, about a payment of earnings for that employee. CJRS grants covered any type of employment contract and employers could claim the grant for the hours their employees and workers on payroll were not working, calculated by reference to their usual hours worked in a claim period. Flexible furlough meant employers could work for any amount of time and any work pattern, while still being able to claim CJRS grant for the hours not worked with reference to hours the employee would usually have worked in that period. However, employers could not claim for any days from 1 December 2020 during which the furloughed employee was serving a contractual or statutory notice period for the employer. This included people serving notice of retirement or resignation. Normal redundancy rules and protections would have applied in these circumstances. Ultimately, it was for the employer to decide whether to offer furlough to their employees, and claim the CJRS grant, according to the needs of their business. The employer was under no obligation to access the scheme. If an employee believes that the employer did make a claim on their behalf, but did not pass this on to the employee, they should tell HMRC. Reports of COVID-19 scheme abuse can be made to HMRC via their online fraud reporting tool here: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-revenue-customs/contact/report-fraud-to-hmrc. Calls can also be made anonymously and free of charge to report suspected fraudulent activity to the COVID Fraud Hotline on 0800 587 5030.

Deposit Return Schemes: Scotland

Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has made an assessment of the effect of the cost of VAT to manufacturers where the Scottish Deposit Return Scheme reaches an 80 per cent bottle return rate; and if he will make a statement.

Lucy Frazer: The Scottish Government and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs both intend to introduce deposit return schemes for drinks containers. HMRC is working with them and other stakeholders to ensure the VAT implications of these schemes are understood and is exploring how the VAT regulations may be amended to support the scheme. HMRC will assess the impact of any VAT regulation changes.

Transport: Freight

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant the Answer of 9 March 2022 to Question 132251 on Transport: Freight, what steps HRMC takes a declarant does not provide the transport costs on their declaration.

Lucy Frazer: If mandatory fields of a declaration are not completed, HMRC’s import and export declaration system will generate a notification that further information is required. Declarations will not be cleared until the required fields have been completed by the declarant in accordance with the system rules. HMRC will not estimate transport costs.

National Insurance Contributions

Jim Shannon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will delay the planned national insurance increase due to take place in April 2022 in response to the increase in fuel costs.

Lucy Frazer: The Health and Social Care Levy will establish a long-term, sustainable source of revenue to give healthcare the extra funding needed to recover from the pandemic and to implement reform to social care as soon as possible. The increased spending takes immediate effect this year to deliver our ambitions to tackle the NHS electives backlog, which is why we cannot delay the introduction of the Levy. The Government is committed to responsible management of the public finances and it is important that this spending is fully funded, particularly in the context of record borrowing and debt, as a result of the economic response to COVID-19. The Government has announced a package of support to help households with rising energy bills, worth £9.1 billion in 2022-23.

Retail Trade: Non-domestic Rates

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment he has made of the impact of business rates on the wellbeing of high streets.

Lucy Frazer: Business Rates are a vital source of funding for local services and communities. The Government recognises that many high street businesses have had a challenging period through the pandemic, which is why we have provided over £16 billion of business rates support to the retail, hospitality, and leisure sectors throughout the pandemic. Going forward, businesses in the retail, hospitality, and leisure sector will receive a further business rates cut worth almost £1.7 billion in 2022-23. Combined with small business rates relief, this means over 90 per cent of retail, hospitality, and leisure businesses will receive at least 50 per cent off their rates bills in 2022-23.

Non-domestic Rates

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he plans to reform business rates.

Lucy Frazer: The Government published the final report of the Business Rates Review at Autumn Budget 2021. The conclusion reaffirms the importance of business rates for raising revenue for essential local services and announces a package of measures worth £7 billion over the next 5 years. This includes a freeze in the multiplier, new support for improvements and green technology, and further relief for high street businesses. The Government is also committing to more frequent revaluations, which represents significant reform of the system and will ensure that liabilities are more responsive to changing conditions.

Off-payroll Working

Drew Hendry: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of a mechanism by which, under IR35 rules, the deemed payment figure declared to HMRC, as reported by the fee payer, can be altered to enable the gross employee wages to be changed for tax calculation purposes, in circumstances where the personal service company has not paid the whole fee to the employee as wages, in relation to (a) Employers National Insurance, (b) Employees National Insurance, (c) the Apprenticeship Levy and (d) Personal Income Tax.

Lucy Frazer: The Off-Payroll working rules, commonly known as IR35, have been in place for over twenty years and are designed to ensure that individuals working like employees but through their own company, usually a personal service company (PSC), pay broadly the same Income Tax and National Insurance contributions (NICs) as those who are directly employed. If the rules are determined to apply to an engagement, the deemed employer will operate Pay As You Earn (PAYE) to deduct any Income Tax and National Insurance Contributions (NICs) due from the gross wage before paying this to the PSC. The deemed employer is also responsible for paying any employer NICs and the Apprenticeship Levy, if applicable. As PAYE has already been operated on the payment, this income will not be subject to any further taxation. How the PSC decides to remunerate the worker out of this income will therefore have no bearing on the calculation of tax that is collected through PAYE by the deemed employer on the gross wage. Were the measure of deemed employment income under the off-payroll rules to be limited to the wages paid by the PSC to the worker, as suggested, the worker would be able to decide how much tax they wished to pay, undermining the intention that those working like employees should pay tax like employees.

Holiday Accommodation: Taxation

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will enable local authorities to levy a tax on people staying on vacation in short term holiday lets, B&Bs, guest houses or hotels.

Lucy Frazer: The Government recognises that the hospitality industry makes a vital contribution to the UK economy. The Government does not currently have plans to enable local authorities to levy a tax on accommodation for vacations. Tax is collected at a national level from holidaymakers staying in accommodation through the VAT system. Normally, a standard VAT rate of 20 per cent applies, however, a temporary reduced rate of 5 per cent was introduced on 15 July 2020 to support businesses in the hospitality and tourism sectors through the pandemic. As of 1 October 2021, this rate was raised to 12.5 per cent to taper support for businesses before the rate returns to 20 per cent VAT from 1 April 2022.

Electricity: VAT

Kate Osamor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make it his policy to review the VAT regime for electricity, in order to support electric vehicle uptake.

Lucy Frazer: The Government is committed to supporting electric vehicle uptake. Since the Spending Review 2020, we have committed £2.5 billion to vehicle grants and charging infrastructure to accelerate the country's transition to electric vehicles. However, we have no plans to review the VAT regime for electricity. Although the supply of electricity is normally subject to the standard rate of VAT (20 per cent), in order to keep costs down for families, the supply of electricity for domestic use, including charging electric vehicles at home, attracts the reduced rate of VAT (5 per cent).Expanding the existing relief would come at a cost. VAT makes a significant contribution towards the public finances, raising around £130 billion in 2019-20, and helps fund the Government's priorities including the NHS, schools, and defence. Any loss in tax revenue would have to be balanced by a reduction in public spending, increased borrowing, or increased taxation elsewhere.

Health and Social Care Levy

James Murray: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 8 March 2022 to the Question 134094 on Health and Social Care Levy, if the Government will publish the complete Family Test assessments prepared for the Levy when they are ready.

Lucy Frazer: Family Test assessments are not routinely published. Decisions on whether and how to publish complete Family Test assessments fall within the responsibility of each Government department. HMRC have no further plans to publish a Family Test assessment on the Health and Social Care Levy.

Empty Property: Non-domestic Rates

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of charging empty high street properties additional business rates in the event that they do not allow local start-up businesses from utilising their space at a reduced cost.

Lucy Frazer: The business rates system ensures that the owners of most empty buildings pay 100 per cent of the business rates bill once the property has been unoccupied for three months, or six months for industrial buildings. This current structure strikes the right balance between not penalising landlords who lose a tenant at short notice, whilst incentivising property owners and landlords to secure new tenants. In the Levelling Up White Paper, the Government committed to going further in supporting places to tackle blight and reviving our high streets by exploring new powers for local authorities to require landlords to rent out long-term vacant properties to prospective tenants, such as local businesses or community groups.

National Lottery

Alex Davies-Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the difference has been in the amount of expected income to the Exchequer from the National Lottery and actual income so received in the most recent two rounds of the National Lottery for which such information is available.

Lucy Frazer: The information requested is not available. HMRC report monthly receipts from specific betting and gaming duties, including Lottery Duty. HMRC do not hold information on tax receipts in respect of specific lottery products, events, or “rounds”. HMRC publish information on Lottery Duty receipts within the ‘UK Betting and Gaming Statistics’ publication: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/uk-betting-and-gaming-statistics.

Mortgages

Munira Wilson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 28 February 2022 to Question 125543, on Mortgages, what estimate he has made of the total number of lifetime mortgage customers who could benefit from switching to plans on lower interest rates but have not yet done so.

John Glen: Lifetime mortgages are a form of equity release scheme which may be an appropriate option for some homeowners wishing to withdraw equity while remaining in their home. The interest rates charged on lifetime mortgage products are typically fixed for the duration of the loan term which provides certainty for borrowers. Whether it is in a consumer’s best interest to switch their lifetime mortgage plan will depend on their individual circumstances. As with any long-term financial product, we encourage borrowers to regularly consider their options, and they may wish to seek advice to ensure that any changes to their loan are appropriate for their individual circumstances. Borrowers should also be mindful of any factors, such as early repayment charges, that may affect their decision to switch.

Business: Coronavirus

Jim Shannon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to ensure that organisations that received covid-19 loans repay a fair amount of the funding they received.

John Glen: We have been clear from the outset that these are loans which must be repaid. In order to give businesses who have borrowed under the Bounce Back Loan Scheme further support and flexibility in making their repayments, the Chancellor announced “Pay as You Grow” (PAYG) options in September 2020. These give businesses the option to take a a six month full repayment holiday, and to extend their Bounce Back Loan repayments over ten years, reducing their average monthly repayments on the loan by almost half. Businesses also have the option to move to interest-only payments for periods of up to six months (an option which they can use up to three times). For those who borrowed under the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS), the Government has taken action to allow lenders to provide borrowers with more time to make their repayments where they assess that borrowers are in difficulty and will benefit from the extension. While it is too early to give a definitive view on the final level of payments, current levels of failure to repay are lower than some of the worst-case scenarios cited by critics: early data shows that businesses have made a positive start to repayments, with the significant majority of businesses meeting monthly repayments. A proportion of businesses have chosen to repay their loan in full already and current levels of distress amongst borrowers are relatively low. The latest publicly available data can be found here: https://www.british-business-bank.co.uk/covid-19-emergency-loan-schemes-repayment-data/.

Housing: Prices

Jim Shannon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of house prices across the UK on the number of first time buyers (a) applying and (b) securing mortgages on properties.

John Glen: The Government remains committed to helping as many first-time buyers as possible to secure homeownership. The Government runs a wide range of schemes to help first-time buyers to access the housing ladder, including the mortgage guarantee scheme, which helps those who are only able to raise a 5% deposit, and the Lifetime ISA, which helps people to save for a deposit. A full list of Government-run housing schemes is available on the following website: https://www.ownyourhome.gov.uk/. In 2021, over 400,000 first-time buyers were able to take their first steps on the housing ladder. This is in comparison to circa 300,000 in 2020, and is the highest number in 20 years.

Credit: Regulation

Jim Shannon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of regulatory checks on buy now pay later apps including Clearpay and Klarna.

John Glen: Interest-free Buy-Now Pay-Later (BNPL) agreements repayable in under twelve months and in twelve or fewer instalments are currently unregulated. Firms offering these agreements do not currently need to comply with the Consumer Credit Act 1974. Firms which solely offer these agreements do not currently need to be authorised by the FCA. BNPL is currently subject to some regulation, outlined below, however the Government’s assessment is that this regulation is insufficient to wholly address the potential risks of consumer detriment arising from BNPL products. Therefore, on 2 February 2021 the Government announced its intention to regulate BNPL products in a proportionate manner. The Government published a consultation on policy proposals for the regulation of BNPL on 21 October 2021, which closed on 6 January 2022. The Government is now reviewing responses to this consultation and considering next steps and intends to publish a consultation response in the spring. Despite not currently being regulated by the FCA, firms offering BNPL must comply with the rules set out in the UK Advertising Codes, and are also subject to the Consumer Rights Act 2015, concerning the fairness of their contract terms, and the Consumer Protections from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 in relation to unfair commercial practices. Offending firms can be referred to Trading Standards and OFCOM for further action where necessary. The Advertising Standards Authority also published formal guidance about BNPL on 1 December 2020 setting out its expectations on both providers and retailers when offering these services. In addition, on 14 February 2022 the FCA announced it had secured changes to potentially unfair and unclear terms in the contracts of BNPL firms using its powers under the Consumer Rights Act 2015. Some of these firms also agreed voluntarily to refund some customers who were charged late payment fees.

Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what guidance he has provided to banks, financial services and providers regarding early termination fees for Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Schemes.

John Glen: For Bounce Back Loan Scheme, early repayment is permitted at any stage, without early repayment fees. For CBILS and CLBILS, as the loan are written in line with lenders’ commercial processes, there is no rule against lenders charging early repayment fees.

Debts: Ukraine

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with G7 finance ministers on debt cancellation for Ukraine with specific reference to (a) International Monetary Fund debt, (b) domestic debts, (c) Eurobonds debt and (d) other debts; and if he will make a statement.

John Glen: The Chancellor continues to engage with G7 partners and International Financial Institutions on progressing current and future support to Ukraine. This includes a G7 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting held on 1 March with the Ukrainian Finance Minister. Alongside our allies, we’ve hit Russia with the most severe package of sanctions it has ever seen and our economic and humanitarian support to Ukraine now totals around £400 million. This includes USD$100 million of funding to Ukraine through the World Bank Multi-Donor Trust Fund and that we stand ready to provide USD$500 million in loan guarantees to support Multilateral Development Bank lending. This support has also enabled a package to be agreed on 8 March of over $700m for direct fiscal support to Ukraine via the World Bank, to help mitigate direct economic impacts.

Prisons: Finance

Jim Shannon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will allocate additional funding in Barnett consequentials to help ensure that prisons throughout the UK meet their obligations under UN guidelines.

Mr Simon Clarke: Responsibility for prisons is reserved in England and Wales. The UK Government has provided a £3.2 billion cash increase for the justice system over the Parliament to £11.5 billion in 2024-25, which includes a £3.8 billion investment in our prison building programme over the next three years. Responsibility for prisons is devolved to the Scottish Government and the Northern Ireland Executive. It is for the devolved administrations to decide how to allocate their funding across their devolved responsibilities. The 2021 Spending Review settlements were the largest since devolution. The Scottish Government is receiving an average of £4.6 billion per year through the Barnett formula on top of its £36.7 billion annual baseline and the Northern Ireland Executive is receiving an average of £1.6 billion through the Barnett formula on top of its £13.4 billion annual baseline.

Treasury: Social Media

Geraint Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much his Department spent on social media advertising in (a) 2019, (b) 2020, (c) 2021 and (d) 2022 up to and including 28 February; and on which platforms that money was spent.

Helen Whately: For details on HM Treasury social media spend please see the following transparency data. https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/25000-spend

Alcoholic Drinks: Excise Duties

Munira Wilson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of lowered alcohol duty on (a) beer, (b) cider and (c) other alcoholic beverages on rates of harmful drinking among (i) young people and (ii) other age groups in the UK.

Helen Whately: The Treasury has consulted public health groups on the impact of duty rates on harmful drinking as part of our alcohol duty review, and continues to monitor emerging evidence on this point. For example, as set out in the summary of responses to the call for evidence published in October 2021, public health groups cited the correlation between cheap, high strength spirits (such as vodka) and alcohol-related harms, as the volume of drink needed to reach intoxication is smaller with higher strength drinks. In response, the Treasury announced at Autumn Budget 2021 it would move to a new system that taxes all products in reference to the litres of pure alcohol they contain, as is currently the case for spirits. We have also announced a reduced rate for products of a lower alcohol by volume (ABV), to incentivise the production and consumption of lower strength drinks. Further detail about the impact of our alcohol duty reforms on public health will be included in a tax information and impact note when the policy is final, or near final, in the usual way.

Fuels: Excise Duties and VAT

Claire Hanna: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of (a) reducing VAT on road fuels and (b) retaining the freeze on road fuels excise duty in the context of recent price rises.

Helen Whately: VAT has been designed as a broad-based tax on consumption, and the twenty per cent standard rate applies to the vast majority of goods and services, including fuel. In recognition of high prices at the pump and the fact that fuel represents a major cost for households and businesses, the Chancellor announced at the Autumn Budget 2021 that fuel duty would remain frozen in 2022-23. This is the twelfth consecutive year of the fuel duty freeze, providing savings for consumers worth almost £8 billion over the next five years. All taxes, including fuel duty and VAT, remain under review.

Fuels: Excise Duties

Rob Roberts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has had recent discussions with relevant stakeholders on the potential merits of a temporary reduction in fuel duty.

Virginia Crosbie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of reducing fuel duty to help (a) consumers and (b) hauliers in response to the energy crisis.

Helen Whately: In recognition of high prices at the pump and the fact that fuel represents a major cost for households and businesses, including the haulage sector, the Chancellor announced at the Autumn Budget 2021 that fuel duty would remain frozen for a twelfth consecutive year. A freeze already represents a cut in real terms, providing savings for consumers worth almost £8 billion over the next five years. All taxes, including fuel duty, remain under review.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Tennis: Russia

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether she will take steps to prevent Russian players participating at Wimbledon tennis tournament.

Nigel Huddleston: The Government strongly condemns Russia’s unprovoked, flagrant actions. Russia must not be allowed to exploit major sporting and cultural events on the world stage to seek to legitimise its illegal invasion of Ukraine.That is why we brought together an international coalition to see what more we could do to increase the pressure on Putin’s regime, and issued a joint statement with 36 other nations calling on international sporting federations to endorse the principles that:Russia and Belarus should not be permitted to host, bid for or be awarded any international sporting events.Individual athletes selected by Russia and Belarus, administrators and teams representing the Russian or Belarusian state should be banned from competing in other countries, including those representing bodies, cities or brands that are effectively representing Russia or Belarus, such as major football clubs.Wherever possible, appropriate actions should be taken to limit sponsorship and other financial support from entities with links to the Russian or Belarusian states.The full statement is available here.The issue of Russian or Belarussian individual sports persons participating in a truly neutral capacity - in the UK and overseas - adds further complexity, and our position will have the greatest impact if it is taken in line with other nations. We are engaging with national governing bodies, including the All England Lawn Tennis Club, and international counterparts in order to reach an agreed position that can be implemented as consistently as possible.

Ofcom: Public Appointments

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how much the Government has spent (a) in total and (b) with Saxton Bampfylde recruitment advisers for the appointment of a new Ofcom Chair.

Julia Lopez: Saxton Bampfylde has been appointed as the headhunter for this competition, following a tender process that was run in line with government procurement rules. The contract value is £18,000.No other costs have been incurred, beyond the staffing costs usually associated with running a public appointments process.

Telecommunications

Julian Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what plans her Department has for informing consumers about changes that will happen to their telephone and internet services over the next three years.

Julia Lopez: Between now and 2025, the way landlines work in the UK is changing. Providers are moving from the old Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) to new Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology. The PSTN is a privately-owned telecoms network and the decision to upgrade it has been taken by the telecoms industry.As this is an industry-led migration, communications providers will contact their customers with information ahead of their line being upgraded. The exact migration process will depend on the provider and the type of equipment the customer has at their premises.We are working together with Ofcom to ensure customers receive appropriate levels of communication and vulnerable consumers are protected. Ofcom requires that providers must engage in effective communications to ensure all vulnerable customers understand the risk in the migration to VoIP. We are also ensuring the telecoms industry is engaging with priority sectors such as Critical National Infrastructure and Telecare providers ahead of time.Ofcom has set out initial proposals for the process for retiring the fixed copper broadband network. This is a separate process to the PSTN migration and we do not expect to see copper retirement in the next three years.

Telecommunications

Julian Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to assess Ofcom's performance against its strategic objective of delivering fair and effective competition between existing network operators and new entrants; and when her Department plans to publish its assessment of that measure.

Julia Lopez: Ofcom set out last year its Wholesale Fixed Telecoms Market Review (‘WFTMR’) which establishes the frameworks it considers necessary to meet its duties under the Communications Act 2003, including the Statement of Strategic Priorities, to promote competition and investment in gigabit-capable networks.The measures established under this WFTMR are now monitored through Ofcom’s Openreach Monitoring Unit.Under the Communications Act 2003, Ofcom - rather than the government - is responsible for publishing a report of what it has done in consequence of the Statement every twelve months. The most recent report from Ofcom is on Ofcom’s website.However, the fixed telecoms network market is as competitive as it has ever been and there are currently more than 80 providers building gigabit-capable networks across all parts of the UK.

Youth Investment Fund

Conor McGinn: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to phase 1 of the Youth Investment Fund, what her timeframe is for the allocation of funds to successful applicants.

Nigel Huddleston: Phase 1 of the Youth Investment Fund is providing funding for local youth organisations in 45 local authorities and around 600 district wards in levelling up priority areas in parts of England, to expand the reach and range of services they offer. Funding for phase 1 of the Youth Investment Fund is currently being allocated to successful applicants by BBC Children in Need, the Intermediary Grant Maker, with the requirement to demonstrate funding has been spent by the end of March 2022. An applicant's ability to spend funding in this timeframe was a key criterion in the assessment process.

Gambling: Addictions

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to raise public awareness of the danger of gambling addiction.

Chris Philp: A variety of initiatives are in place across the gambling regulatory framework, health services, and the educational curriculum to protect individuals and the wider public from harmful gambling and raise awareness of its risks.As part of the statutory Relationships, Sex and Health Education curriculum in England, young people are taught about the risks relating to gambling, including the accumulation of debt. To support teachers to deliver these topics safely and with confidence, the Department for Education has also developed a series of training modules, one of which has a specific section on gambling.The Gambling Commission requires all gambling operators to make information available to customers on how to gamble safely and how to access information on problem gambling and the support available. Most operators signpost to the charity GambleAware’s begambleaware.org site, which contains a wide range of information on risks as well as links to advice and support, including the 24 hour National Gambling Helpline. The NHS webpage 'Help for problem gambling' covers common indicators which suggest that individuals may be experiencing harmful gambling, as well as advice and links to treatment services. Work is also being done to raise awareness through frontline practitioners, with GambleAware publishing a competency framework for primary care practitioners to improve the awareness and responsiveness of Primary Care to gambling harms.Since 2019, GambleAware’s ‘Bet Regret’ campaign, a commitment from the government’s last Gambling Review, has effectively encouraged awareness of risky betting behaviours and action to help regain control, as well as signposting to further support. Members of the Betting and Gaming Council have also committed 20% of their advertising on TV and radio to safer gambling messaging and the Industry Code for Socially Responsible Advertising requires social responsibility messaging throughout the length of all broadcast gambling adverts.The Government’s Review of the Gambling Act 2005 aims to ensure gambling regulation is fit for the digital age. As part of the wide scope of that Review, we called for evidence on the effectiveness of safer gambling messaging across a number of media, and we are considering the evidence carefully. We will publish a white paper in the coming weeks.

Disinformation: Russia

Neil Coyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department has evidence of Russian disinformation efforts aimed at disrupting UK society, including through (a) RT and (b) other front organisations such as the Internet Research Agency; and what steps her Department is taking to (i) monitor and (ii) counter Russian disinformation efforts.

Neil Coyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to support (a) Facebook and (b) other social media companies to prevent the spread of Russian disinformation through their platforms.

Chris Philp: Russia continues to use disinformation to attempt to justify its military action against Ukraine. Accompanied by baseless rhetoric and disinformation, Russian authorities falsely cast Ukraine as a threat to justify their aggressive stance.The DCMS-led Counter Disinformation Unit (CDU) is working to identify and counter Russian disinformation targeted at UK and international audiences. We are working closely with the major social media platforms, including Meta (Facebook’s parent company), to ensure that they are cooperating at speed to swiftly remove disinformation and coordinated inauthentic or manipulated behaviour, as per their Terms of Service. We are also ensuring that platforms are promoting authoritative content which accurately depicts the ongoing situation in Ukraine.The government welcomes the actions that Meta and YouTube have taken to block channels connected to RT and Sputnik in the EU and the UK, and the Secretary of State has written to other major platforms, including Twitter and TikTok, to ask that they take similar action. We also welcome the actions Twitter has taken to label Russian-state affiliated accounts and media links and prohibit Russian state media from running adverts or monetisation on the platform.

5G: Planning Permission

Mike Amesbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment his Department has made of potential merits of amending planning legislation to facilitate the roll out of 5G; and what assessment he has made of the adequacy of existing planning legislation in respect of that roll out.

Julia Lopez: The government’s ambition is for the majority of the population to have access to a 5G signal by 2027 and we also want to ensure that UK businesses reap the full benefits of 5G.It is essential that the planning system continues to effectively support the deployment of new mobile infrastructure. On 7 March 2022, we published our response to the second of two consultations on necessary reforms to the planning system, setting out the changes we intend to make.These changes will provide operators with the flexibility they require to upgrade existing sites in England for 5G deployment, enhance coverage and meet the growing demands for network capacity. They will also help improve coverage in rural areas by supporting the deployment of the Shared Rural Network, where sites will need to be installed and upgraded for sharing by the four national mobile network operators.

Internet: Disadvantaged

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 4 March 2022 to Question 129183 on Digital Technology: Disadvantaged, if he will take steps to help internet providers offer free internet connections to low-income households.

Julia Lopez: A number of fixed broadband providers have introduced affordable social tariffs to market, with BT, Virgin Media O2, Hyperoptic and other providers offering discounted tariffs to households in receipt of Universal Credit and other means-tested benefits, starting at £10 per month. Between them, these products are available to 99% of households across the country.We continue to monitor the effectiveness of these products in supporting low-income households' access to broadband.Support for low-income households accessing broadband is available through the Department for Work and Pensions partnership with TalkTalk to provide all job-seekers a free 6 month broadband connection.The Good Things Foundation has established a National Databank in partnership with Virgin Media 02, Vodafone and Three, to provide over 7.5 million gigabytes of free mobile data to local communities to provide connectivity to those that need it.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, when she plans to respond to the enquiry of 24 January 2022 from the hon. Member for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney regarding Mr. Williams.

Julia Lopez: A reply was issued on 10 March 2022.

5G: Wales

Virginia Crosbie: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what progress has been made on the OpenRan 5G project rollout in Wales; what the planned timetable is for that project to go live in Ynys Môn constituency; and what assessment she has made of the potential merits of using that project as an exemplar for net zero 5G provision.

Julia Lopez: The government continues to explore the role of interoperable technologies, such as Open RAN (Radio Access Network), in the future of our telecommunications networks as part of the 5G Supply Chain Diversification Strategy, published in November last year. Open RAN is an emerging technology that promises efficiency, flexibility and scalability gains. Government’s commitments in this space include £15m of investment in SONIC Labs (the SmartRAN Open Networks Interoperability Centre), the £36m Future RAN Competition (FRANC), and the £1.2m NeutrORAN project in partnership with NEC in North Wales.NeutrORAN is a project which aims to develop a multi-operator, ‘neutral host’ solution for 4G and then 5G in Wales; in Cefn Du and Menai Science Park (M-Sparc) in Ynys Môn (Anglesey). This style of deployment will enable a more cost efficient way to deliver capacity and coverage to underserved regions. NeutrORAN has been up and running since 2019 and has been extended up to March 2023.There are also three FRANC projects in Wales, covering a range of key topics to develop power efficient, flexible, and scalable 5G Open RAN. The government is committed to the net zero agenda, and improving the power efficiency of Open RAN solutions was one of the priorities against which FRANC applicants were assessed. We look forward to seeing how those projects in Wales, and across the UK, advance the environmental credentials of Open RAN and push our networks towards carbon neutrality.UK network operators are now beginning to deploy Open RAN solutions in the field. Notably, Vodafone has committed to deploy 2500 4G and 5G sites across Wales and the south west of England. Three sites in Wales are already live: Builth Wells, Powys; Pendine, Carmarthenshire; and Halkyn, Flintshire.

Banks: Closures

Jeff Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the impact of bank branch closures on small and medium sized charities.

Nigel Huddleston: We regularly engage with sector representatives to understand challenges and opportunities facing the sector, as does the Fundraising Regulator and the Charity Commission. The Charity Commission also works with relevant partners, including government, the banking sector, and the charity sector to discuss a range of banking issues faced by charities.To date, DCMS has not received representations about the immediate risk to the sector of branch closures. However, we are aware of the longer term pressures that a move towards a cashless society will create for some in the sector. The government is keen to engage on this issue with the sector and regulators.

Culture: Ukraine

Drew Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to ensure cultural institutions trading in or housing cultural objects and materials looted from Ukraine are sanctioned and unable to operate or trade with (a) institutions, (b) individuals, (c) charities and (d) businesses in the UK.

Nigel Huddleston: No one in the UK should be doing business with any institution which knowingly acquires cultural objects looted from Ukraine. International and domestic UK law includes a range of provisions, including criminal offences, to protect cultural objects from unlawful removal and illicit trade. Art market businesses and museums in the UK subscribe to codes of conduct which set out their responsibilities and procedures for ensuring the lawful provenance of the cultural objects which they handle. The Government expects anyone dealing in cultural objects to ensure that those objects have not been looted from any country, including Ukraine, and that the businesses and institutions they are dealing with are acting lawfully.